For people needing full and correct information read:
http://lists.oasis-open.org/archives/office/200806/msg00084.html

Even IBM’s Rob Weir confirming that inviting ODF TC members to Redmond is actually a good thing and supporting it fully.

Any objective and reasonable person that is first pro-open standards would consider Microsoft support of ODF and Microsoft submission of OOXML as an ISO standard a victory (which I think it is as well as good for users).

Did you see what they do for OOXML? Do you consider bullying, bribery and extortion to be acceptable? Moreover, have you not seen that OOXML is Windows-specific and a case against the GPL? What about Microsoft’s history when it comes to standards?

Microsoft decided to support ODF now instead of when they were invited. So what? I’m convinced Microsoft, like any other corporation, makes decisions that they think will further their interests. Given the current legal context and market demands, they probably think that now is the time to support ODF.

You can speculate all you want about whatever dark reasons made them support ODF, that’s irrelevant. You think Microsoft will not support ODF properly! What does that mean? If you mean they are going to support it with their best interests in mind, well of course, like any other company supporting a standard. If you think they are going to sabotage in some subtle way their support of ODF in Office I would say that’s wishful thinking. As much as you don’t like them admit at least that they are smarter than that.

You claim to be pro-open standards. Yes I believe you are but I believe you are first anti-Microsoft and then pro-open standards. Any objective and reasonable person that is first pro-open standards would consider Microsoft support of ODF and Microsoft submission of OOXML as an ISO standard a victory (which I think it is as well as good for users). Instead you vilify Microsoft and one of its employees.

So yes there is an “anti-Microsoft camp”. A “de facto” one.

By the way, there is no “anti-Microsoft camp”. There’s a pro-open standards camp; Microsoft just doesn’t want to be part of it; it never did. It wants to be ‘the’ standard (de facto).

“We want to own these standards, so we should not participate in standards groups. Rather, we should call ‘to me’ to the industry and set a standard that works now and is for everyone’s benefit. We are large enough that this can work.”

–Microsoft Corporation, internal memo (source [compressed PDF])

For years Microsoft opponents complained Microsoft didn’t document their protocols and file formats. That was presented as unfair competition because of their monopoly. Still, the approval of OOXML as an ISO standard encountered tremendous opposition. Microsoft announced they were going to support ODF in Office and again people like you came up with the darkest reasons and plots behind that decision.

Whatever reasons made Microsoft support ODF or document some of their protocols be happy and let consumers/users decide for themselves what they want.

You come across as somebody who is afraid consumers are going to choose Microsoft which you consider a bad choice. Now that Microsoft took away one of your biggest argument (closed protocols and closed file formats) you vilify the company.

I bet Microsoft will promise a free trip and all sorts of ‘funs’… maybe even a trip down to Disneyland (sarcasm)

Mind you, the guy who invites them, Doug Mahugh, on is also known as “Elephant in the Room” for the most disgusting of dirty tricks.

http://www.openmalaysiablog.com/2008/03/the-elephant-in.html

Doug Mahugh also said about OOXML that it’s a simple matter of Microsoft’s commercial interest. The guy one of the dirtiest among the bunch. It’s almost like being invited by Satan.

Remember the Sun Tzu… know your enemy.

People should memorize this line, when MS comes a knocking….

“Frak off…..”

D.

My former employer sure went for the Microsoft line, hook & sinker. Especially the sinker part. They’re now out of business, to a great extent because of MS. If OASIS isn’t careful, it could happen to them too.

Microsoft had a great opportunity to participate when ODF was being developed. They refused. Then, all they wanted was to steal the good ideas to put into MS-XML (aka OOXML) without contributing back. Now, they want to act like they’re concerned about ODF being a universal format for everyone.

I don’t believe them any more than I believe Dick Cheney. And that’s pretty far down the credibility scale.

http://lists.oasis-open.org/archives/office/200806/msg00078.html

Also to keep in mind:

http://standardsandfreedom.net/index.php/2008/04/07/the-ugliness-of-it-all/

“Another way for Microsoft to attack ODF would be to oppose the standardization of ODF 1.2. They will use the same tactics they had with OOXML, but in the opposite direction. It will be funny to watch how the ISO and the national standards bodies will switch all of a sudden to a demanding stance on ODF 1.2, which will only be an iteration of an existing ISO standard. I am afraid we will witness such a shocking twist in the standardization bodies’ attitude.”

He said this just before Microsoft announced that it would support (or ‘support’) ODF.

Sounds like even more reason why we should
keep the ODF proecess open.