Re: [xml-dev] Results of Open XML balloting at INCITS

["Ken North" <kennorth@sbcglobal.net>]

Michael Kay wrote:
> (b) will it
> reduce the costs or increase the compensatory benefits of that monopoly to
> the user community.

Elliotte Rusty Harold wrote:
>> No, It won't. Specification of OOXML will accomplish that, but
>> standardization will not do more than simple specification would.

I'm reminded we discussed ISO standardization of XML on this list and in an open 
meeting at XML DevCon in San Jose. Edd Dumbill's synopsis of that long-ago 
meeting is an interesting read in light of the heated debate over ISO standards 
for office document formats.

Seven years ago the mindset of many in this community was that ISO standards are 
unnecessary and irrelevant. Apparently that is no longer the case.

"Should XML Become a "Real" Standard?"
http://www.xml.com/pub/a/2000/11/devcon/standards.html

"... Jonathan Borden of the Open Healthcare Group, Paul Byron of Health Level 7, 
and Alan Kotok of DISA discussed the Health Insurance Portability and 
Accountability Act (HIPPA) as a case study of using standards as part of legal 
mandates... The discussion noted that when standards become legal mandates 
rather than voluntary, the top priority becomes compliance with the law.

... Other participants questioned the benefits that may result from ISO 
standardization of APIs or XML as a whole, and noted that some ISO standards, 
even those that were open and tightly designed, do not necessarily attract a 
large following. Tim Bray, co-editor of the XML 1.0 specification, asked the 
meeting participants for a show of hands as to who was in favor of an ISO 
standard for XML. Aside from about three people, no one else responded. "


_________ Ken North ________
www.KNComputing.com

www.WebServicesSummit.com
www.SQLSummit.com
www.GridSummit.com