[…] The tsunami that devastated South Eastern Asian countries and the north-eastern parts of Africa, is perhaps the most graphic, albeit unfortunate, demonstration of the need for global collaboration, and open ICT standards. The incalculable loss of life and damage to property was exacerbated by the fact that responding agencies and non-governmental groups were unable to share information vital to the rescue effort. Each was using different data and document formats. Relief was slowed, and coordination complicated. […]
Mosibudi Mangena, Opening address of SATNAC 2005
Standards are important. Among other things they allow for interoperability — when you buy a new washing machine or a new TV you don’t have to have a new power socket installed, it just fits the old one. Sadly, in ICT, if you have such expectations you will soon be disappointed — all too often, if you change your software, your old files become unreadable.
Over the years there have been many successful attempts to create open, standard file formats. But producers of proprietary software don’t like this as it prevents them locking you in to their products. A couple of years ago, Microsoft found a way to break the standardization process: introduce a non-standard standard and then ‘persuade’ the ISO to ratify it.
Being unable to rely upon the impartiality of the World standards organization is of great concern.
Latest news on Microsoft, OOXML and the ISO
The noooxml.org petition lists the principal objections.
See also:
The Digital Standards Organization
The Hague Declaration — Human Rights aspect of Open Standards
Open Parliament — Petition for the European Parliament to adopt Open Standards
Petition for fair patents within the European Union — relevant to this article when one considers the threat posed by Software Patents
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