OK, so who is a fan of these Microsoft tactics? As has been reported on Slashdot and elsewhere, Microsoft basically bought the vote for OOXML in Sweden.
To be able to vote all you need is to pay the membership fee to SIS and the total cost for this was 17.000 SEK (2444 USD). Of the 23 new companies that showed up this last minute and where the majority hasn't shown any earlier interest, only Google has a clear agenda regarding OOXML and they are against it. Following companies showed just before the meeting started: [list of Microsoft partner companies follows]Andy Upgrove now writes:
The final result was 25 Yes, 6 No and 3 Abs and this would from the start be a done deal of saying No!
As someone who has spent a great part of my life working to support open standards over the past 20 years, I have to say that this is the most egregious, and far-reaching, example of playing the system to the advantage of a single company that I have ever seen. Breathtaking, in fact. That's assuming, of course, that I am right in supposing that all of these newbie countries vote "yes."Why many commentators are starting to say that, regardless of the outcome, this process should catalyze significant change in standards efforts/process in the future.
I guess we'll just have to wait and see a few more days to learn whether that assumption is true. Want to place your bets?
Link: ConsortiumInfo: The OOXML Vote: How Bad Can it Get? (Keep Counting) >
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- 2
Karl-Henry Martinsson | 8/28/2007 11:11:05 PM
Also article at
{ Link } (one of the two major morning newspapers in Sweden). In Swedish, but basically saying the same thing.
- 3
Ed Brill http://www.edbrill.com | 8/29/2007 10:28:19 AM
As an aside, I posted a comment on Brian Jones' weblog about this, in the entry { Link } . He wrote, re Sweden:
"In Sweden, the IBM side started bringing in people who hadn't even read the spec and just wanted to vote "no". Google joined at the last minute with the sole plan of blocking it. We asked a number of the companies we knew who want to see Open XML adopted if they would also participate and show their support."
My comment was, look at the list of companies that voted in the SIS. Other than Google, all the late joiners were Microsoft partners, and it's not like Google is some kind of IBM stooge, either. So, where were all the people "the IBM side started bringing in"?
Oddly, he has approved other comments and posted replies this morning, but my comment has not yet appeared. Another "slow count".
- 4
Alan Bell http://www.dominux.co.uk | 8/29/2007 10:48:40 AM
interestingly three of the partners:
Cybernetics (Microsoft Gold Partner)
Readsoft AB (Microsoft Certified Partner)
Strand Interconnect AB (Microsoft Gold Partner)
didn't vote. They walked out with IBM. I think Strand at least is an IBM partner as well as a Microsoft partner. How about the others? Do you know why they walked, having paid to vote?
- 5
Mike Brown | 8/29/2007 4:43:33 PM
On that Sweden vote, it looks as though Groklaw may have uncovered the smoking gun:
"In an informational email that, according to Microsoft, went "to a few" partner companies, they write among other things that their partners are "expected" to join the standards insitute and "participate on the meeting the 27/8, to vote yes to Open XML”..... [The partner companies] do not need to discuss the technical contents in the specification but should be prepared to offer a few arguments as to why they vote yes - these will be provided by Microsoft", the company writes. The fee for joining SIS is 15 000 SEK [appx $1200] and the partnership companies will have to cover this themselves, but the software giant offers "marketing support" and "additional support in the form of Microsoft resources" to the partners that join and participate in the ballot."
{ Link }
If that's not bribery and corruption then what is?
Cheers,
- Mike
- 6
Mike Brown | 8/29/2007 8:28:31 PM
A Swedish news site reports that Microsoft has owned up to that partner memo.
"We don't buy yes votes. It's crazy to think that we would do such a thing," said a Microsoft spokesman, waving a brown envelope full of cash to any reporter that would like to "forget the entire incident ever happened". (Okay, I made that last bit up, but the way things are going, it didn't sound all that far-fetched when I wrote it down).
{ Link }
Cheers,
- Mike
- 7
Axel | 8/30/2007 4:41:55 AM
Here is a good and concise resume of the reasons for those who have voted no:
{ Link }
- 8
Sean Jennings | 8/30/2007 4:58:52 AM
Surely with all these voting irregularities going-on, the entire process, both with the national bodies and ISO needs to be suspended pending an enquiry into what it happening?
I don't know about other countries, but if this happened with the BSI in the UK, then it would be possible for any concerned party to seek an injunction in the courts against any 'yes' vote. While no rules or regulations on ratification may have been broken technically, it would appear that the 'spirit' of the regulations were being flouted.
It could also be argued that the regulations for ratification are defective and not fit for purpose by allowing unfair voting practises.
- 9
Mike Brown | 8/30/2007 6:36:13 AM
@8 Sean
Really?
My Gods, it's not often these days that you get to say that you're proud to be British! Good on the BSI! And to think that I used to live just around the corner from their big building in Gunnersbury too.
Now, if only all those Johnny Foreigners could take a leaf out of good old Blighty's book, eh?
(Joke, everyone).
Cheers,
- Mike
- 10
Landreth | 8/30/2007 10:35:13 AM
Noticed the interest about the vote in Sweden - then it might be interest that Microsoft also offered some candy for the partners that joined up at the SIS meeting:
"Vote Yes to Open XXML and we'll make sure that you get extra marketing money for you campaigns; this is Microsoft's Sweden's own words when they rounded up their Gold Partners in Sweden."
For more information check following url: { Link }
- 11
Ed Brill http://www.edbrill.com | 8/30/2007 12:33:59 PM
As more fun reading, check MS's official explanation for the Swedish caper:
{ Link }
I love the comment where someone says that MS is playing a game of "the end justifies the means". That's their business attitude on just about everything.
- 12
Mike Brown | 8/30/2007 5:33:53 PM
Great comment from consortiuminfo.org:
"As I have watched the national vote stacking and P upgrades progress, I have been reminded of nothing so much as Caligula's forcing the election of his horse as a Consul of Rome"
{ Link }
Cheers,
- Mike
- 13
Lars Olufsen http://www.olufsphere.com | 8/31/2007 5:03:28 AM
Sweden has retracted and will abstain.
Norway has just voted "NO"
- 14
Sean Jennings | 8/31/2007 6:35:58 AM
@13
this is getting to be as exciting as watching the Eurovision Song Contest - not watching the songs (which are always dire) but the votes coming in from around Europe!!
Anyone know of a webpage that is tallying votes and abstentions?
- 15
"Microsoft admits bunging cash to partners" | 8/31/2007 6:40:50 AM
Finally, a news site that calls this for what it really is:
"Microsoft has put its hand up and admitted giving money to its Swedish partners to form a rent-a-mob and push through a vote in favor of the Office Open XML document format's approval as an ISO standard"
{ Link }
"rent-a-mob", love it!
Cheers,
- Mike
- 16
Christopher Byrne http://www.controlscaddy.com/ | 8/31/2007 8:04:59 AM
According to a commenter on my blog, Sweden has annulled its vote. More information at { Link }
Sounds just like the Iowa straw poll.
{ Link }