EC decision proves the value of an ISO standard
The European Commission is reluctant to recommend the OpenDocument file format, even though the format has been endorsed by international standards groups.....According to sources familiar with the issue, Microsoft's drive to get its own file formats standardized may deter the EC from backing OpenDocument....On Thursday, a source close to IDABC told ZDNet UK that although the organization is likely to update its policy soon, it is unlikely to specifically recommend OpenDocument, as it is concerned that a second ISO document standard will emerge later.
"It is highly probable that we will strongly recommend the use of open document formats to public administrations. On the other hand, it is unlikely that we will make a specific recommendation, in case we will have two ISO standards at a later point in time," said the source. "It is likely that we will urge industry players to provide compatibility between formats, and in the long run to aim for one single format."
What a joke.