Rob Isn't Weird writes "After the smoking gun memo exposing how Microsoft tried to buy Sweden's vote on OOXML and Sweden's annulment of that vote due to the irregularities, IBM's Rob Weir points out that the fiasco could cause anti-trust worries for Microsoft. He quotes ALLIED TUBE & CONDUIT CORP. v. INDIAN HEAD, INC., 486 U.S. 492 (1988), which says "What petitioner may not do (without exposing itself to possible antitrust liability for direct injuries) is bias the process by, as in this case, stacking the private standard-setting body with decision makers sharing their economic interest in restraining competition."" Link to Original Source
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How can any ordinary person justify such blatant behavior. If they (MS) needs to resort to such tatics to get their way, it's obvious that they themselves can't support their position based on the merits of their format. With all the talent and bucks available to MS, they should be able to come up with something better which doesn't need bribery to be promoted.
Basically, they feel that they don't have time. They fear that major governments could start standardizing on the ISO standard ODF instead of a Microsoft proprietary standard, so they can't just sit around. Remember: there are TWO profitable divisions at Microsoft. Those two are Windows and Office. If OOXML loses to ODF, they're lock-in is broken. Yes, they do have other plans in the pipeline, and of course even killing OOXML will by no means kill Microsoft or Word. Their next lock-in hopeful is ShareP
Legalities Aside (Score:1)
Time to Market (Score:2)
Yes, they do have other plans in the pipeline, and of course even killing OOXML will by no means kill Microsoft or Word. Their next lock-in hopeful is ShareP