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Setting rules
When, as in this case, the standard arises from the software's functionality, then having the software comply with an unchanging standard would prevent change in the software. The horse is the software and the cart the standard.

That said, I think that Microsoft will not try to gain advantage by concealed formats. If Office is declared a monopoly, and that doesn't seem difficult, then preventing use of formats would draw attention. Especially now that the company has acknowledged standard-setting.

At one time, Microsoft also gained advantage from pressuring OEMs to ignore operating systems other than Windows. That time has passed, if not the advantages. Format control is a similar obsolete idea, I think.
Posted by: Anton Philidor   Posted on: 04/21/08 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Change the format and not the software...  Anton Philidor | 04/21/08
Which was...  zkiwi | 04/21/08
Make the ISO standard conform to Microsoft's code base you mean?  fr0thy2 | 04/21/08
Informative  Anton Philidor | 04/21/08
So...  zkiwi | 04/21/08
More likely...  bportlock | 04/21/08
Well...  zkiwi | 04/21/08
Observing the forms.  Anton Philidor | 04/21/08
Michael? Don't you mean...  zkiwi | 04/21/08
I like the way you imply that ...  fr0thy2 | 04/21/08
If you mean Vista...  Anton Philidor | 04/21/08
"Having found what the public wants"  fr0thy2 | 04/21/08
Congruent interests  Anton Philidor | 04/21/08
You forgot to mention...  zkiwi | 04/21/08
LOL! Classic cart before the horse:  OButterball | 04/21/08
Setting rules  Anton Philidor | 04/21/08
What?!?  OButterball | 04/21/08
When to obtain designation as a standard.  Anton Philidor | 04/21/08
Standards More Important than MS' Need to "Improve Software"  Mercutio_Viz | 04/21/08
Speculation  Anton Philidor | 04/21/08
I'll have to hand it to you  Ole Man | 04/21/08
Didn't we know that already?  Michael Kelly | 04/21/08
Yes Microsoft said this months ago  Johnny Vegas | 04/21/08
Spot on.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/21/08
Especially as their code base is as poor as their "standards"  fr0thy2 | 04/21/08
Show us your proof  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/21/08
Well...  zkiwi | 04/21/08
I'll answer your question....  bportlock | 04/21/08
Whoa, hang on...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/21/08
Well, where is your reply?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/21/08
Some of us work for a living, Axhead.  OButterball | 04/21/08
NWOR (nt)  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/21/08
Apparently some people have lives outside of ZDNet forums.  B.O.F.H. | 04/21/08
Apparently not you.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/21/08
Right. So when the ISO says "make this change"  GuidingLight | 04/21/08
One thing...  zkiwi | 04/21/08
ISO doesn't tell anyone to do anything  Ole Man | 04/21/08
software vs. format  shis-ka-bob | 04/21/08
So, where's the reference implementation?  zkiwi | 04/21/08
as the bugs haven't been fixed in the specification  stevey_d | 04/21/08
*ssshhh*  zkiwi | 04/21/08
Your last sentence says it all  Ole Man | 04/21/08
If no one uses MS-OOXML, does it exist?  zaine_ridling | 04/22/08
OOXML is real get used to it.  kyron.gustafson@... | 04/22/08
Except...  zkiwi | 04/23/08
One small forgotten thing...  Mitch 74 | 04/22/08

What do you think?

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