Open standards bodies call for halt on OpenXML fast-track

Microsoft's plans for Office Open XML could go awry

Microsoft’s attempts to get Office Open XML fast-tracked as a document format standard have taken a hit, as two open standards bodies have teamed up to push for a delay in the process.

OpenXML was submitted to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) by Ecma, which had already given its backing to the standard. But OpenForum Europe (OFE) and the ODF Alliance have issued a joint alert about the Microsoft-backed approach, warning of Open XML’s potential to “limit office software competition and saddle the European economy with increased future IT costs”.

In advance of the 5 February deadline for issuing contradictions to the fast-track approval process, the two groups are urging interested parties across Europe to write to their local standards organisation to recommend that reasonable time be given to review the OpenXML document.

OFE also raised its objections in a letter to the British Standards Institution (BSI). It called on the BSI to issue a contradiction to the fast-track process, which would lead to the review procedure being extended to 90 days.

The open standards group claimed that the 30-day fast-track review process was not sufficient for stakeholders to properly assess and feedback on the 6,000 pages submitted to the ISO earlier in January in support of Open XML.

OFE also argued that the Microsoft approach competes with the existing OpenDocument Format (ODF) ISO standard. As a result, it urged the BSI to encourage the adoption of a single common standard based on the existing ODF approach.

“The ISO has already approved a standard,” said Graham Taylor, OFE’s chief executive. “I’d now like to see Microsoft sit down and see how it can come together with the ODF camp, as there might be enhancements it could offer. But we’d be insistent on it being really open.”