[LINK] OOXML contradictions are online

[Kim Holburn]

Article here:
http://www.sutor.com/newsite/blog-open/?p=1528

Responses here (zipped pdfs):
http://jtc1sc32.org/doc/recent/JTC001-N-8530.zip

I particularly liked the response from Finland:
> When considering the size, complexity and scope of the Ecma  
> submission we must raise
> some concerns about further procedure.
>
> Considering the speed of the Ecma process, the rapidity of the Fast- 
> Track process and the
> length (over 6,000 pages) and complexity of the submitted  
> specification, we have serious
> doubts whether this or any other NSB can fulfill its obligations  
> successfully to review this
> specification and maintain the integrity of the process and the  
> reputation of JTC1.
>
> The specification contains within it complete specifications of two  
> different vector
> graphics languages (VML and DrawingML), a complete specification  
> for the
> representation of mathematical equations (OOMML), a complete  
> specification for a
> schema evolution language (Markup Compatability ML) and a complete  
> bibliographic
> citation language, in addition to others.  We know from analogous  
> standards produced by
> the W3C, such as SVG and MathML, that the development and review of  
> even a single
> one of these sub-specifications would require an expert group 2-3  
> years.  But Ecma, in a
> process that did not receive much public visibility, produced a  
> specification that includes
> all of these, and their review and approval cycle took less than  
> one year.
>
> Therefore, we believe the best way forward is for Office Open XML  
> to be removed from
> the JTC1 Fast Track ballot process at this time, and either be  
> submitted to a WG for more
> through review, submitted in reasonably-sized subsections, e.g.,  
> 500 pages, for normal
> approval, or (preferably) that Office Open XML be harmonized with  
> the existing
> ISO/IEC 26300 *Open Document Format*.
>
> In addition the 'Licensing conditions that Microsoft offers for  
> Office Open XML'
> (seeJTC001-N-8455-3) explicitly exclude all items merely referenced  
> from the licensing
> commitment.
> *To clarify, *Microsoft Necessary Claims* are those claims of  
> Microsoft-owned or
> Microsoft controlled patents that are necessary to implement only  
> the required portions of
> the Covered Specification that are described in detail and not  
> merely referenced in such
> Specification.*

The response from Singapore was exellent too:
> 1. ECMA 376 is inconsistent with and contradicts ISO/IEC 26300:2006  
> “Open Document
> Format for Office Applications”

...

> 2. ECMA 376 is inconsistent with and contradicts ISO 8601:2004  
> “Representation of
> Dates and Times”

...

> 3. ECMA 376 is inconsistent with and contradicts ISO 639 “Codes for  
> the representation
> of names of languages”

...

> 4. ECMA 376 is inconsistent with and contradicts ISO/IEC 8632  
> “Computer Graphics
> Metafile”

...

> 5. ECMA 376 conflicts with the General Principles of the ISO/IEC  
> Directives, Part 2.
> ECMA 378 cannot be fully understood or implemented by a typical  
> computer programmer
> without substantial technical assistance from Microsoft. Numerous  
> sections in the
> specification refer to the undocumented behavior of Microsoft  
> proprietary products.

...

> 7. Other comments
>
> A standard with 6000+ pages is a clear case of slowing down or  
> confusing 3rd-party
> understanding of the content.  An implementer of ECMA 376l would  
> necessarily need to
> digest and remember a huge amount of information and understanding  
> from the 6000+ pages
> before s/he is able to feel sufficiently confident about  
> translating the standard’s requirements
> into program codes.  As this capability of understanding demands a  
> lot more from
> implementers, this indirectly raises the barrier to implementing  
> standard, and directly
> contradicts ISO’s mission and objectives.
>
> One possibility on working around this objection is to break up the  
> individual sub-standards
> and allow separate standardization process to take place amongst  
> the independent sub-
> proposals.  With a more specific scope and well-defined terminology  
> within the sub-
> proposals, it will allow easier understanding and promotes greater  
> utility of the sub-proposals
> to members of ISO, provided the sub-proposals themselves do not  
> generate other
> contradictions.


--
Kim Holburn
IT Network & Security Consultant
Ph: +39 06 855 4294  M: +39 3494957443
mailto:kim at holburn.net  aim://kimholburn
skype://kholburn - PGP Public Key on request

Democracy imposed from without is the severest form of tyranny.
                           -- Lloyd Biggle, Jr. Analog, Apr 1961