From: Peter Drummond <>
To: ua.gro.sdradnats|tcestni#ua.gro.sdradnats|tcestni
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2008 08:47:55 +1000
Subject: OOXML ISO proposal

Dear ISO Standards Committee -

as Australia's IUPAP representative for computational physics, and
Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, I would like to make the
strongest possible objection to the proposal that the OOXML
specification be adopted by the ISO. Australia should vote to reject
this proposal.

This proposal is along the lines that ‘We wish to propose an alternative
standard for measurement called the Microsoft metre, which equals
3.14159 standard metres, except on leap years, when it equals 2.71828
standard metres’. Such a ridiculous proposal is unacceptable.

The simple point here is that there is an existing international
standard called the ODF, just as we have an existing international
standard for length (the meter), time (the second) and weight (the
kilogram). The entire point of having a standard is the uniqueness of
the standard!

To have two completely incompatible standards is not necessary, and
would lead to the destruction of the standardization process. In the
long run, this is less efficient, increases costs, and greatly reduces
the chances of archival documents being readable in the distant future.

If a corporation or individual wishes to make technical improvements to
a standard like ODF, there are channels and procedures for this. It is
totally counterproductive and foolish to try and create a second
incompatible standard, purely to afford competitive advantages to one
company.

Finally, I haven't even mentioned the numerous technical problems to the
OOXML proposal. This is so complex and poorly specified that there
appears to be no fully compliant implementation in existence now, nor
any means to verify compliance. To avoid embarrassment, please vote NO.

Yours sincerely,

Peter D Drummond, FAA,
Professor of Theoretical Physics,
University of Queensland.