Microsoft lobbyist using TBT for legal threats
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started by: zoobabzoobab
on: 1207781315|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
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Threats are cheap. Especially when it comes to threatening governments who do not use Microsoft's legacy OOXML format for non compliance with the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) WTO treaty.
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Microsoft lobbyist using TBT for legal threats
zoobabzoobab 1207781315|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Jan van den Beld, who was promoting Microsoft's legacy OpenXML format at the Geneva BRM for CompTIA, a well know Microsoft lobby group, is using the Technical Barriers to Trade WTO treaty for legal threats to governments:

He also advised governments against mandating just one electronic document standard as it may run foul of World Trade Organization policies and open themselves to possible legal challenges. "One of the big concerns of WTO is that you should not use standards as a barrier to trade," he said.

"If a government enforces [use of just one standard], that would mean the whole country is not allowed to use OpenXML. Then, they could get into a very difficult legal situation as they can be challenged legally," opinioned van den Beld.

Beware governments, you can be sued for not using OOXML.

last edited on 1207825939|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover by pieterh + show more
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unfold Microsoft lobbyist using TBT for legal threats by zoobabzoobab, 1207781315|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
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Re: Microsoft lobbyist using TBT for legal threats
arebentiarebenti 1207812174|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

He just got used to the free interpretation of international treaties by his new employers. We know their WTO TRIPs teachings.

He should know very well that OpenXML is a likely target of TBT complaints, so he turns the case around.

Nice try. Problem: WTO is not stupid.

However, even persons who should be smart talk garbage when it comes to international treaties.

Example: the "implementation" of the Council of Europe [!= EU] cybercrime convention and the lack of its "ratification". From a public official I expect the knowledge that the Council of Europe is a diplomat talkshop for Eastern Europe, a cold war leftover, and its conventions are usually neither ratified nor implemented, simple declaration papers. Not to mention that the whole issue of cybercrime was off-topic in that forum.

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unfold Re: Microsoft lobbyist using TBT for legal threats by arebentiarebenti, 1207812174|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
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