Microsoft Office: A secret fan of ODF?

Last month we showed that Microsoft was willing to bend ODF's way. The company actually suggested that it was willing to accommodate the needs of government whose requirements include the use of real standards such as OpenDocument format. A month goes by and watch what we have here.

The OpenDocument Society mentions in its newsletter that Microsoft might have an "ODF standards group" within the Microsoft Office team.

If true, this is excellent news. Microsoft can finally cancel its plans for OOXML and just try to work better with the existing international standard which is ODF. Why duplicate? Why corrupt the system? Why propose a 'standard' that only works in a single application and a single operating system? It would be insane.

ODF is still gaining momentum with the new assignment of Patrick Durusau. [via Simon Phipps]

Durusau's contract, sponsored by Sun Microsystems, allows him to continue a role he had during the development of ODF v 1.0 and 1.1 in OASIS, and in the submission of 1.0 to the ISO/IEC fast track process. Both the OASIS and ISO organizations have clear and well developed policies for participation which ensure all interests have input to the specification.

Come on, Microsoft. Use a real standard. You can't fool the world with OOXML and you only make your establishment seem more corrupt than we already know it is. Not ready for ODF yet? Can't give up the fight? The harmonisation door has already been opened for you to enter.

The only natural monopoly is that of a single universal standard that is free to implement and use. ⬆