-----Original Message-----
From: DC Springer <dspringer@do.usbr.gov>
To: lrajchel@ansi.org <lrajchel@ansi.org>
Sent: Wed Jan 24 11:06:39 2007
Subject: ECMA 376 (ISO/IEC DIS 29500)

<<dspringer.vcf>> Dear Mrs. Rajchel,

Very recently, 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)

As an IT professional who supports open source technologies in both the
public and private sector, I am very concerned about the possibility of
this standard receiving ISO approval. Any specification which spans an
excess of 6000 pages cannot be fully understood or adequately evaluated
during the fast-track process. Additionally, Ecma 376 is in fact so
vendor-specific as to not be a standard at all. Only the corporation
submitting Ecma 376 for fast track approval is in a position to
implement it.

Besides being in contradiction with ISO/IEC 26300:2006, Ecma 376 clearly
violates section 2.14 of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1, in that not all
of what it takes to implement the standard is covered by the licensing
conditions offered by Microsoft.

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 and (ii) development of more suitable
intellectual property documents.

The concerns over Ecma 376, as pertaining ISO approval, are summarized
on this page:
http://www.grokdoc.net/index.php/EOOXML_objections

The initial review period ends very soon, on February 5th. If none of
the "P-Members" of the ISO/IEC JTC1 (Joint Technical Commitee 1) raise
an "contradiction", the specification will go through the "fast-track"
process towards ISO approval. The above page lists many contradictions
in Ecma 376 as defined by the ISO rules.

Thank you very much for your assistance.

Yours truly,
Dave Springer
Contract IT Developer.