March 14th, 2008
Microsoft OSP is a pie crust promise
As any fan of Mary Poppins knows, a pie crust promise is easily made, and easily broken. (Picture from Therapy and Movies.)
The Software Freedom Law Center has a paper out today making this charge regarding Microsoft’s Open Specification Promise. It was easily made and can be easily broken.
The subtext here is Microsoft’s Office Open XML, which could soon become an ISO standard following what a friend refers to as a Florida election.
The paper, which carries no byline, adds that the OSP covers only specifications, not code, and the provision is inconsistent with the GPL.
While we’re still waiting on results in the ISO process many Microsoft opponents are fearful the company has won by bribing the delegations of small countries and putting political pressure on U.S. and European delegations.
Sort of puts that whole “good Microsoft” bit I wrote about last month into a cocked hat, eh?
Dana Blankenhorn has been a business journalist for 30 years, a tech freelancer since 1983. You can follow Dana on Twitter. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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| 03/14/08
