Microsoft's ooXML is on the ropes in Europe: IBM

Stan Beer
Thursday, 17 May 2007 16:34

Business IT - Technology

Is ooXML, Microsoft's new documents standard on the ropes in Europe? Absolutely, according to one of IBM's prominent technology and intellectual property spokespersons. Like other areas that are starting to seriously bug Microsoft, open document standards go to the heart of eliminating the software company's proprietary lock-in.

Ari Fishkind, public affairs manager IBM Technology & Intellectual Property, believes that Microsoft's new ooXML ocument standard is now in serious doubt of gaining widespread acceptance worldwide and particularly in Europe.

Fishkind points to recent decisions from European countries such as Norway, Poland, Croatia, Belgium, France, Denmark, Germany and Holland, where formats such as ODF and PDF have either been mandated for use in government agencies ahead of ooXML or are under serious consideration.

"Open formats like ODF are making substantial inroads worldwide, particularly in Europe," says Fishkind.

"The Norwegian Standards Association and a top government minister are now recommending that all government agencies use ODF or PDF document formats.  Other formats like ooXML will be allowed for backup purposes only.

"Croatia has recently proposed a similar measure.  In other parts of Europe, Belgium has mandated ODF, while France and Denmark are strongly considering doing the same.  Germany and Amsterdam are well underway in adopting open formats as well.

"Poland has just approved the National IT Agenda as a new law.  It is the first law in Poland officially recognizing open standards. One of its provisions states that the technology neutrality of the state is to be achieved by 'implementation of open and publicly available IT standards.'"

However, according to Fishkind, it isn't just Europe that is rejecting Microsoft's attempt to impose its own documents standard.

"On July 1, 2007, Japan will become the first Asian nation to declare a formal policy giving priority to technology based on open standards," he said in an email.