I recently came across Voices For Innovation. Voices for Innovation is a website set up by Microsoft corporation. It includes a grassroot petition that counters the <no>OOXML campaign of FFII.
Voices for Innovation supports a policy environment which fosters innovation and enables all participants using and developing technology, including end users and small and medium-sized enterprises (SME), to harvest the full benefits of an economy with a growing ICT sector. Members of Voices for Innovation seek to share their opinions and viewpoints regarding the key issues of innovation and SME policies. Voices for Innovation will represent the many voices of innovation across our local and regional communities.
A concerned citizen says OOXML
"standardization by ISO would bring great benefits for me as a software developer and a small entrepreneur: it will provide openness and interoperability, increase flexibility and long term security and will allow my business to develop the applications my customers demand. How is this possible? Let me explain some key technical reasons."
All existing documents can be moved into Open XML and ODF without any loss of data.
Open XML is an ECMA standard, and it would be possible to convert documents to ISO 26300:2006 without any loss of data. Sounds optimistic. Then why do you need OOXML as a second ISO standard? Why is ISO better than ECMA? Let's skip logical fallacies because I am getting confused. I enjoy phrases like these:
This is crucial for my business:
Why? it doesn't take you too long to get that the person who wrote it is so desperate to tell you he was a "real" small entrepreneur or a "real" developer. A person who always needs to present himself as someone, as a real prophet for all the others who are in the same situation and his poor suffering customers, and he presents their cause.
Some competitors to Microsoft claim that Open XML causes inefficiency and has a negative impact on users, due to duplication and overlap with the existing ODF standard. As a developer of customer-oriented solutions, I am convinced that these critics are not justified: customers cannot suffer by having more choice, and governments and administrations should not get locked into one mandatory standard.
Technology neutrality is essential to encourage an open and competitive environment which is the oxygen for small businesses like mine.
This is essential for a small innovative company like mine to meet the requirements of the market a…
Who wrote it? Damir Tomicic is Managing Director of Axinom, a German SME specializing in the development of IT solutions, services and consulting. His blog presents him as Microsoft Regional director. Will he become the next "German" Mike Sax or the nouveau Simon Gentry?
Unsere Zielgruppe bleiben mittelständische und große Unternehmen…. Die Kernkompetenz von Axinom ist der Einsatz von Microsoft-Technologien und -Produkte und wir tun vieles dafür, dass es auch so bleibt. … Um dies zu ermöglichen arbeiten wir eng in Rahmen diverser Programme (TAP, Enterprise Go, etc.) mit den verschiedenen Microsoft-Produktgruppen zusammen und sind als „Microsoft Vendor“ in Deutschland, in EMEA und in USA zertifiziert und zugelassen.
Time for reflection
I found Tomicic's dictum on standardization insightful.
I am convinced that these critics are not justified: customers cannot suffer by having more choice
He really convinced me. What if standardization was a bad idea. Shouldn't we promote cultural diversity? Why should our customers suffer from ISO 26300?
and governments and administrations should not get locked into one mandatory standard.
What if governments got locked into ODF and couldn't enjoy the benefits of OOXML?
On top of it, Open XML offers a coherent alternative to the different ODF implementations which are .. often incompatible with each other.
You know, Open XML is coherent, ODF is incompatible.
As a member of the Voices for Innovation community, I believe that the innovation industry should be more active and vocal in shaping the future environment for innovators and innovation before ISO takes its decision. We have the responsibility to make our voice heard to decision makers and we can do it through concrete initiatives such as the Openxmlcommunity
I understand. The <no>OOXML campaign deceived me. How can I join his grassroot effort for Office Open XML? As an activist I have the responsibility to make my voice heard to decision makers. I want to join the global community of businesses and governments active in explaining the benefits of multiple document standards and in calling for the standardization of Open XML. After all, innovation is a matter for everyone. I won't forget to explain to ymy national delegation why I urgently need ISO standardization of OOXML.
Sign Microsoft's petition in favour of Office Open XML Standardization and boycott FFII's <no>OOXML petition!
Open XML warrants ratification as an ISO/IEC standard for the following key reasons:
* Open XML has been designed to be backwards compatible with billions of existing documents.
* Open XML is a comprehensive file format that provides platform independence, internationalization, and support for assistive technologies that help computer users with disabilities.
* Open XML enables integration with business data and information systems that manage business processes.
* Open XML meets a distinct set of user requirements not covered by existing standards.
* Open XML has been embraced by the technology industry and is being implemented in numerous products.
* Making Open XML an ISO/IEC standard will create business opportunities for thousands of companies and provide greater choice and flexibility to technology users, including consumers, businesses, governments, and organizations.
Worst Lobbying Award
- Winner 2005 - Simon Gentry's Campaign for Creativity in favour of EU softpatents
- Apply here for worst Lobbying Award 2007 - Will Microsoft succeed to get this year's prize? Voices for Innovation is a new campaign in favour of Office Open XML standardization.