Dear Madam:
I am sending you this email since your organization is a liaison member of ISO JTC1 (International Standards Organization Joint Technical Committee 1).
Earlier this month the ECMA International standards group submitted a standard for "fast-track" ISO approval. That is the "Ecma 376 Office Open XML" standard. (ISO/IEC DIS 29500)
Ecma-376 is a (proposed) standard for "word-processing documents,presentations, and spreadsheets" which overlaps completely with an existing, approved, standard ISO/IEC 26300:2006 (OpenDocument (ODF)). Therefore it conflicts directly with ISO's goal of having one standard for any area.
This specification is so complex (more than 6,000 pages) and vendor-specific that only Microsoft can successfully implement it (being modeled on Microsoft Office). Furthermore, "Microsoft developers have reportedly told the Commonwealth of Massachusetts it would be "trivial" for Microsoft to implement OpenDocument in Microsoft Office, and Microsoft's Alan Yates, General Manager, Microsoft Information Worker Business Strategy, predicted that ODF and its competing standard would in fact one day be harmonized." One must conclude that Microsoft's reticence has nothing to do with the standard, but in fact, is an effort to extend its (illegal) monopoly.
The numerous concerns over Ecma 376, as pertaining ISO approval, are summarized here: http://www.grokdoc.net/index.php/EOOXML_objections.
The page lists many contradictions in Ecma 376 as defined by the ISO rules.
The initial review period ends in two weeks, on February 5th. If none of the "P-Members" of the ISO/IEC JTC1 (Joint Technical Committee 1) raise a "contradiction", the specification will go through the "fast-track" process towards ISO approval.
I believe, and I hope that you will agree, that this standard should not be allowed "fast-track" approval. Rather it should be remanded to Ecma International for: (i) harmonization with ISO/IEC 26300:2006 and numerous other standards.
If you are concerned about this matter please raise your concerns with the Secretary of JTC1 Mrs. Lisa Rajchell (rajchel@ansi.org).
Yours truly,