In an open letter posted on its web site, Microsoft has lashed out at IBM for trying to derail the standardization of Microsoft’s Office Open XML (OOXML) by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

Ratification of OOXML as a standard would make it easier for Microsoft to do business with governments that prefer ISO certication of electronic document formats. An alternative standard, OpenDocument Format (ODF), is backed by IBM.

“We believe that Open XML represents an exciting advance toward achieving the original vision of XML, where broad interoperability allows documents to be archived, restructured, aggregated and re-used in new and dynamic ways,”  wrote Tom Robertson, General Manager Interoperability & Standards at Microsoft and Jean Paoli, General Manager Interoperability & XML Architecture.

“We believe that Open XML can help spark an explosion of innovation and investment, which will bring great benefits for customers in the years to come.”

The pair accuse IBM of actively trying to limit block the standardization of OOXML:

“When ODF was under consideration, Microsoft made no effort to slow down the process because we recognized customers’ interest in the standardization of document formats.

“In sharp contrast, during the initial one-month period for consideration of Open XML by ISO/IEC JTC1 (joint technical committee) IBM led a global campaign urging national bodies to demand that ISO/IEC JTC1 not even consider Open XML, because ODF had made it through ISO/IEC JTC1 first – in other words, that Open XML should not even be considered on its technical merits because a competing standard had already been adopted.”

They also suggest that IBM’s motivation in trying to block OOXML is to reduce customer choice in order to give IBM a competitive advantage:

“This campaign to stop even the consideration of Open XML in ISO/IEC JTC1 is a blatant attempt to use the standards process to limit choice in the marketplace for ulterior commercial motives – and without regard for the negative impact on consumer choice and technological innovation.

“It is not a coincidence that IBM’s Lotus Notes product, which IBM is actively promoting in the marketplace, fails to support the Open XML international standard. If successful, the campaign to block consideration of Open XML could create a dynamic where the first technology to the standards body, regardless of technical merit, gets to preclude other related ones from being considered.

“The IBM driven effort to force ODF on users through public procurement mandates is a further attempt to restrict choice.”

It’s quite unusual to see a company like Microsoft so publicly criticize a competitor, though obviously the executives who wrote the letter are frustrated by IBM’s continuing actions.

It’s also unusual to see Microsoft portraying itself as a victim. Strange days at Redmond indeed…

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Entry was posted on Thursday, February 15th, 2007 at 3:01 pm under Microsoft.

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