Microsoft win for OOXML could undermine open source

On Friday, Aug. 15, the software behemoth from Redmond, Wash., won another victory over open source, when the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission gave the go-ahead to Microsoft’s alternative Office Open XML (OOXML) document format. The organizations rejected appeals by four countries (Brazil, South Africa, Venezuela and India) because they failed to obtain two-thirds membership support for their position. The four objectors contended that procedural violations last February invalidated the subsequent April 1 boards’ approval of the Microsoft-sponsored standard. OOXML opponents also argue that the addition of a second document format standard will undermine the Open Document Format (ODL) developed earlier by the open source community. However, the ISO contends that its approval of two standards will give the market the opportunity to choose between the two alternatives.

Since when has Microsoft been in favor of choice? Like the choice of eat or be eaten. . . .