11.26.07

Clarification: GNOME Foundation Does Not Endorse OOXML as an ISO Standard (But Cannot Oppose It, Either)

Posted in ECMA, Formats, GNOME, GNU/Linux, Open XML, Standard at 4:33 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

”…GNOME Foundation does not in any way approve or support OOXML as an ISO standard.“With apologies to Jeff Waugh, let it be clarified that the GNOME Foundation does not in any way approve or support OOXML as an ISO standard. Gnumeric may be allowing Microsoft to claim wider OOXML support, but GNOME as a whole does not approve the acceptance of OOXML as an international standard. This comes as a bit of a surprise because it seems to contradict the views expressed by Jody Goldberg and Miguel de Icaza, whose take on this issue is not welcomed by everyone in the GNOME community.

Jeff adds that “the GNOME Foundation doesn’t endorse, support or contribute to ISO standardisation of OOXML, as noted in the statement we released.” He also adds that “a majority of GNOME developers oppose ISO standardisation, but neither the GNOME Foundation or I can speak for all GNOME developers, nor will the GNOME Foundation or I control their views.” █

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Quick Mention: Linus Torvalds “Really Don’t Know” About the Legal Issues

Posted in GNU/Linux, Interview, Kernel at 2:57 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

A month ago we argued that what makes Linus Torvalds such an excellent programmer is the fact that he does not get distracted by ‘politics’ and gossip. He finally appears to admit that he does not get involved with the legal issues and he also acknowledge the fact that a lot of money is being used against his work (the Linux kernel). From this new interview (via DisinformationWeek:

InformationWeek: Do you think there is any way Microsoft, patent holders, or lawyers can take direct aim at the kernel development process and impede it?

Torvalds: I really don’t know. I don’t think they can impede the technology, and I really don’t think there is anything real behind that whole intellectual property FUD machine. But nearly infinite amounts of money certainly goes a long way.

I’m again the wrong person to ask. I work on the technology, and I make sure we do that as well as we can (which does include the ways we do it, including things like doing all the copyright certification we do), but I think that when it comes to these issues, you’re really talking about marketing and FUD, not so much anything I’m able to really answer.

For reference, relevant past items are appended.

Torvalds on the Novell/Microsoft deal:

• Why Linus Should Denounce the Novell Deal as Well
• New Linus Torvalds Interview Covers the Novell Issue, Again
• Linus Torvalds Has No “Hugely Strong Opinion” on Cross-licensing Deals (Updated)
• Linus Torvalds Finally Comments on the Novell/Microsoft Deal
• Quoteworthy: the Linus Torvalds Interpretation of Cross-licensing Deals

Torvalds on Microsoft’s patent threats:

• Linus Torvalds Escapes the Novell Question, Dismisses Microsoft’s “FUD”
• Linus Torvalds: Microsoft Can’t Compete on Technical Merit, Muddies the Waters Instead

Torvalds on the GPL(v3):

• Is the Linux Kernel Approaching Acceptance of GPLv3?
• Even GPLv3 Skeptics Have Begun to Realise It Has Value and Appreciate Its Effect
• Google Likes GPLv3, Microsoft Hates GPLv3, Eben Moglen Interview on GPLv3
• GPLv3 Resolves the Apache Compatibility Peril, Gets Alan Cox’s Approval
• Interviews: Linus Torvalds About GPLv2, Ron Hovsepian on the Deal

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Quick Mention: The Role of Document Standards and the Wrath of Sharepoint Revisited

Posted in America, Formats, Microsoft, Open XML, Standard at 2:42 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

Sharepoint is not about sharing space with competitors

It has been a while since we last mentioned Sharepoint, which is a huge lockin squid that wraps its tentacles around documents. Please pay careful attention to what Matt Asay has to say. He understands this because his company is deep inside these territories.

While most of the open-source world sleeps, Microsoft is gearing up for a truly innovative take on its next-generation operating system. Sharepoint, not Windows, is the future of Microsoft’s intended dominance.

He talks about the role of ODF and the reason we ought to look at a broader picture that involves business processes in the enterprise. There is a project that involves Mainsoft and IBM’s WebSphere which strives to address this threat. Dana Blankenhorn wrote about it last week.

Andy Updegrove has meanwhile turned his attention to the need to document the whole ODF/OOXML story. Fortunately, the story will not be told by a side to whom this whole thing is a matter of its own commercial interests, by its own admission.

Here is what Andy says about the literature we will have.

There is little question, I think, that regardless of where and how this saga ends, it will be studied in business schools and by economists for decades to come. What they will conclude will depend in part upon the materials we leave behind for them to work with. That’s one of the reasons I’m launching this effort now, as a publicly posted eBook in progress, rather than waiting until some indefinite point in the future to reconnect with the players in this drama to mine their recollections of what they were thinking and doing at the time, by then colored by the passage of time and the influence of later events.

Andy says that the book (eBook) might be used by economists, but hopefully he’ll cover the Massachusetts story extensively enough to make it a good read for those who study bullying, manipulation, and even subtle bribery. The Massachusetts story is just one example that left many of us utterly disgusted. █

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