MEDIA RELEASE
13 December 2007
Advisory group established for meeting on draft Open XML Standard
An advisory group has been established that will take part in a five-day meeting to discuss concerns raised around the
Open Office XML specification. The meeting will be held in Geneva in February 2008.
"With the help of relevant stakeholders Standards New Zealand has formed the advisory group, and will send two delegates
from the group, and a Standards New Zealand staff member, to the meeting," says Grant Thomas, Chief Operating Officer,
Standards New Zealand.
The advisory group is made up of representatives from the following organisations:
- Internet NZ
- NZ Open Source Society - technical
- NZ Open Source Society - strategist
- IBM NZ
- Microsoft NZ
- Microsoft NZ partner
- Archives New Zealand
- State Services Commission
- NZ Computer Society
Mr Thomas says "The meeting will be an opportunity for the international committee to discuss and try to resolve the
concerns raised by countries that voted against the specification.
"Our advisory group will have the crucial role of considering the proposed resolutions of these concerns, and advising
Standards New Zealand about whether these adequately address stakeholders concerns. The advisory group will concentrate
on concerns submitted by New Zealand, but will also consider any concerns raised by other countries that they believe
are important and relevant to New Zealand."
In September 2007, the European Computer Manufacturers' Association (ECMA) 376 Open Office XML specification was not
approved as an international standard when voted on by members of the international standards joint technical committee
No 1 (JTC1). Standards New Zealand, as a member of JTC1 with the responsibility to vote on behalf of New Zealand, voted
against adopting the specification as an international standard.
Before casting a negative vote, Standards New Zealand ran a two-day workshop for interested parties to understand
stakeholder views and determine the appropriate vote.
"After considerable consultation, we submitted a negative vote with comments detailing concerns about the document,"
said Grant Thomas.
"At the time, we announced that voting 'no' with comments provides the opportunity for any technical issues to be
resolved. If all the concerns are resolved we will have the chance to change New Zealand's vote to a 'yes'."
For more information and to view the ISO/IEC press release - http://www.iso.org/iso/pressrelease.htm?refid=Ref1070
For more information on New Zealand's vote - http://www.standards.co.nz/news/Media+archive/July+-+Sept+07/Summary.htm
ENDS