Microsoft spins OOXML loss as a win

Microsoft lost its effort to win "fast track" approval of its OOXML (which it calls Open XML)  as an international standard, but you wouldn't know that from reading much of the press coverage.

• Microsoft claims global support for Open XML.
• Microsoft reports victory in preliminary ISO ballot.
• Microsoft takes big step toward OOXML approval.
• Microsoft is seen winning an international standard vote.   
• Strong global support for Open XML.

Not exactly. As C|Net's own Martin Lamonica reports, Microsoft needed two-thirds of the "participating" members in the ISO to vote yes in order to get OOXML declared a standard. It got 17, and 15 voted no. That's not two-thirds. It's not even close.

Among others who got the story right were Ars Technica, Web Informant, and PC World. Not to mention a host of bloggers.

The game is still on. Microsoft can get another vote in March after addressing technical questions attached to the votes. It may win that one.

But this is not a technical question. It is a political question. You don't try to buy votes on technical questions. You do on political questions.

You also don't try to spin technical arguments about engineering standards. You do on political arguments. Whether to make Microsoft's OOXML, or Open XML, an international standard is a political question, and this weekend Microsoft lost the first vote.

Don't believe me? OK, Larry Craig is not gay. We're winning in Iraq. Global warming is a hoax. Housing prices are headed up. And that bridge at the top of this post?

I'll let you have it for a song. My real estate agent can give you a full report.