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OOXML: Wasn't There Supposed to be a Final Text Within a Month?

By Pamela Jones et al.

Not to burst any bubbles, but I think the ISO folks have failed to follow the rules. I know. How could *that* happen? Someone tell Ripley's Believe It Or Not. Here. Read it for yourself, from the relevant Directive [PDF], clause 13.12 on page 60:

13.12 The time period for post ballot activities by the respective responsible parties shall be as follows:

• Immediately after the vote, ITTF shall send the results of the vote to the JTC 1 Secretariat and to the SC Secretariat, and for the latter to distribute the results without delay to its NBs, to any NBs having voted that are not members of the SC and to the proposer.
• As soon as possible after the distribution of the results of the vote to its NBs but in not less than two and one-half months the SC Secretariat shall convene a ballot resolution group meeting if required;
• In not more than one month after the ballot resolution group meeting the SC Secretariat shall distribute the final report of the meeting and final DIS text in case of acceptance.

So where is it? It's been more than a month. The BRM was from February 25 to 29. Uh oh. Anybody get one?

Well, what are nitpicky rules among friends? And what's the point of crossing a legal T or dotting a supposedly required I, when I gather no one plans on enforcing any rules that get in the way of a happy result anyhow?

Wait. I have it. It must be "out of respect for the standards process" -- they don't wish to seem to interfere with the appeals. Legally that makes no sense to me, since the rule doesn't say, "... unless there are formal appeals filed, in which case a final text shall be distributed three months after the ballot resolution meeting." Say. I'm thinking any ISO guys looking for work should apply at SCO's bankruptcy law firm. They'd fit in perfectly. SCO's lawyers just said to the court about SCO's third attempt at a reorganization plan, "We don't have a new deal, but when we get the deal we think we're going to get, it's going to be better." ISO has just said to the world, in effect, "We don't have OOXML finished despite it being accepted as a standard, but when it gets finished someday, it's going to be better." It's a match!

Full post as published by Groklaw on April 04, 2008 (boomark / email).