April 2nd, 2008
EU investigating OOXML vote
The EU is investigating Microsoft’s handling of the OOXML vote, in which Microsoft’s problem-ridden format was approved by the ISO, CNET reports.
In an ongoing investigation, the EU checked in with several European countries where there were allegations of irregularities.
In a letter seen by CNET News.com, European regulators queried the national standards body in Norway to gain details into the local standardization process. Specifically, the European Commission sought information on attempts to influence the debate or vote over the standards proposal.
In response, Standards Norway said there was heated debate but not any “inappropriate behavior that endangered our process,” according to a document seen by CNET News.com.
News.com also reports the EU is talking to Microsoft about the vote, as well.
Microsoft’s general manager of standards and interoperability Tom Robertson said that Microsoft, too, has been queried as part of the investigation.
He said that Microsoft will “fully cooperate” with any investigation from the Commission.
In response to the accusations of stacking committees, Robertson said that IBM and other competitors have done exactly what Microsoft is accused of doing. For example, an employee from Google, which opposed Open XML standardization, joined the Finnish national committee only three days before a vote.
“It seems that one of the main concerns that people have raised about the process is the broad-based participation in the standards body deliberation,” he said. “I think it’s ironic IBM is complaining about new members in national standards bodies when they have been working around the clock to get people to join.”
