Microsoft 'cajoles' NGOs to support OOXML

The controversy over acceptance of Microsoft's format Office Open XML (OOXML) as a standard by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) refuses to die.

CORRUPT FILE

The Open Document Format (ODF) proponents are alleging that the software giant has "cajoled" Indian NGOs to write to the IT ministry and BIS, supporting OOXML as a standard

They are peeved over the fact that of the 30-odd NGOs, some are funded by the software giant

Till date, India's stand has been 'No' (with comments) to OOXML

A Microsoft spokesperson, when contacted, admitted that letters were indeed sent to the NGOs, but insisted that "one should not read between the lines"

The Open Document Format (ODF) proponents "" who are opposing OOXML on the grounds that 'multiple standards' are not advisable "" are alleging that the software giant has "cajoled" Indian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to write to the IT ministry and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), supporting OOXML as a standard. They are peeved over the fact that of the 30-odd NGOs, some are funded by the software giant.

The letter (template provided by Microsoft), among other things, reads: "...Please write a paragraph about your organisation...Please paraphrase 'We support OXML (sic) as a standard that encourages multiplicity of choice and interoperability giving us the ultimate consumer the choice... Please paraphrase "*** also supports OXML as this does not have any financial implications, thus releasing our resources for welfare and development of society."

Till date, India's stand has been 'No' (with comments) to OOXML. Not getting the ISO approval could mean a loss of government business for Microsoft since governments worldwide, including India, prefer standards that are ratified from bodies such as the ISO.

Governments are wary of holding digital data in proprietary formats, which could make them hostage to a software vendor. Many store files locally using ODF, which is open and free. States such as Delhi, Kerala and others from the North-East are heavy adopters of ODF. Microsoft is trying to address these issues to get the 'No' revised to a 'Yes'.

A Microsoft spokesperson, when contacted, admitted that letters were indeed sent to the NGOs, but insisted that "one should not read between the lines".

"NGOs represent an important section of the society. It is for this reason that their views were sought to be represented on the committee formed by BIS on the issue of Open XML. The number of NGOs who have expressed their voluntary support on Open XML far exceeds the programme partners we have for Project Jyoti, which is in its fourth year and has since partnered with 13 NGOs with cash and software grants amounting to only Rs 37.5 crore. The decision to send a letter of support was made by each individual organisation based on its own merit. Likewise, many of our partners also chose not to voice their opinion," the spokesperson said.

ODF proponents have a different point of view on the subject. "Microsoft's underhanded means of advocacy of OOXML only reinforces the conviction that it views OOXML as a tool for furthering monopolistic goals, and plans to recover their investments multi-fold wherever they succeed in getting it accepted as a standard," says Raj Mathur, one of the founders and currently a member of the Linux Users Group, Delhi.

"Standards govern our day-to-day lives and are therefore not mere technical issues. In the IT world, standards are also being hijacked by powerful monopolies because control of standards leads to huge financial gains. At a national level, we must ask ourselves, if this is the way we want to create standards," says Venkatesh Hariharan, co-founder, Open Source Foundation of India.

Microsoft, on its part, notes that OOXML, a recognised standard by ECMA International already "" and currently being considered in the ISO voting process "" is a response to evolving technology formats in line with continual evolving technology systems.