Microsoft's standards bid stalled

[Simon]

Four countries have appealed a decision to fast-track the international standardisation of a Microsoft document format, called OpenXML.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7445956.stm

[madasahatter]

Not sure if I'm missing something here or not, but I don't really understand what all the hooha is about - can't Open Office successfully open MS proprietary software produced documents already? If they can, why can't anyone else, and why will noone be able to do so in future? 

[kinmel]

The problem is that the new standard has not been fully tested outside Microsoft, yet is being given fast track approval.

This should go through the same implementation path as all other would-be standards; it is being rushed simply to meet Microsoft's commercial interests.

[Rik]

Nothing new there then.