There was a massive protest when Standard Norge decided that Norway will say yes to OOXML, despite the fact that most of the comitee-representatives were against.
The ISO-vote is currently undecided, and Norway’s vote can tip the decicion in favor of accepting OOXML as an ISO-standard.
Things took another turn just a couple of minutes ago, as Steve Pepper, the chairman of the SN/K185 (ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 34 mirror committee, has sent a formal protest to ISO. He asks that Norway’s vote be suspended, because it does not represent the opinion of the comitee members.
He has also asked the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry to look into the Norwegian process.
Here is the content of the fax sent by Steve Pepper:
Formal protest regarding the Norwegian vote on ISO/IEC DIS 29500
I am writing to you in my capacity as Chairman (of 13 years standing) of the Norwegian mirror committee to ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 34. I wish to inform you of serious irregularities in connection with the Norwegian vote on ISO/IEC DIS 29500 (Office Open XML) and to lodge a formal protest.
You will have been notified that Norway voted to approve OOXML in this ballot. This decision does not reflect the view of the vast majority of the Norwegian committee, 80% of which was against changing Norway’s vote from No with comments to Yes.
Because of this irregularity, a call has been made for an investigation by the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry with a view to changing the vote.
I hereby request that the Norwegian decision be suspended pending the results of this investigation.
Yours sincerely,
Steve Pepper
Chairman, SN/K185 (ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 34 mirror committee)
Read more about the Norwegian OOXML-process here.
This story was first published in Norwegian at digi.no.
