Comments on: Microsoft ‘Pulls a Portugal’ in Ireland (Microsoft to Decide on… Microsoft)

By: Roy Schestowitz

Roy Schestowitz — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 21:25:00 +0000

So it seems safe to assume that pressures were applied to his position/role. There are many other examples (notably two CIOs in MA). Examples even include Mr. Geer, a security guru was was fired or decided to leave after criticing Microsoft for security issues (his employer had ties with Microsoft).

OOXML,the advertiser’s dilemma (papers not criticising those that advertise), security consultancies… the influence and money are worth keeping an eye on.

By: FC

FC — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 21:16:56 +0000

He was against OOXML approval which eventually led into SFS firing him before his probation was over.

I did that translation of the meeting back then..

http://boycottnovell.com/2007/08/20/ooxml-poland/#comment-1812

By: Roy Schestowitz

Roy Schestowitz — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 17:12:18 +0000

Hi again, ‘Finland calling’. I have a question which I hope you are able to ask.

What was the stance of Lassi Nirhamo on OOXML?

http://www.tietokone.fi/uutta/uutinen.asp?news_id=31500
http://boycottnovell.com/2007/09/27/odf-sun-google-ibm/#comment-2198

By: Finland calling

Finland calling — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 12:05:00 +0000

Hello, once again.
SFS had a meeting on Friday and they chose Finland’s representatives for BRM as follows:

Manu Setälä (COSS, Centre for Open Source Software)
Ville Oksanen (Effi, Electronic Frontier Finland)
Kimmo Bergius (Microsoft Finland, Manager)
Susanna Vahtila (SFS, IT-standardization expert)
Aki Siponen (Ministry of Finance, Counsellor)

Siponen will also be the chairman of this delegation.

Let’s see how the votes went previously:
COSS and Effi voted no with technical comments.
Kimmo’s opinion we certainly already guess.
Ministry of finance revised their opinion during the meeting and voted yes.
That leaves us with Susanna Vahtila as a swing voter.
Based on that Lassi Nirhamo was fired from SFS due to his opinions.. doesn’t look good.

Since Susanna is a big unknown in our equation, let’s dig in a little deeper to see what we can find.

Software business cluster describes her job at SFS as “Official standardization functions (ISO, CEN) like workgroup voting, distribution of documents, registration of attendants and travel allowances.”
This looks like a basic secretary. For some reason her title is “manager” in “preparing of standards” on their personnel page.

A memo from ministry of the interior meeting in March 2006 enlightens us with this excerpt:
Problems are for example: Drawing a line between official and de facto-standardization, organization of funding, lack of coordination and personification of standardization work.
SFS has no expertise in teleinformatics field, neither chances to take part in unofficial standardization.
Coordinator in IT standardization could be some organization in public administration, but then they should pay attention also for private entities.

Also, “Finnish vote on Fast Track ballot JTC1/N 8455 on Ecma Open” in english can be found at
http://wiki.assemblix.net/Office_Open_XML#Suomen_vastaus_ISO.2FIEC:lle_nopeutetun_k.C3.A4sittelyn_osalta
Signed by another secretary on Susanna’s behalf.