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Lacking community support of its [much maligned][1] OOXML file format, Microsoft decided earlier this week to fake it. In yet another bid to fast track the OOXML format for ISO certification, Microsoft has posted an [online petition][6] positing grassroots support for OOXML, which has thus far seen [very little support][5] outside the walls of Redmond.
Mark Taylor, the founder of the [Open Source Consortium][7], tells [ZDNet UK][8], "in the open-source world, there's clearly a massive grassroots thing." Taylor thinks that Microsoft is trying to apply the old adage if you can't make it, fake it.
"One of the lessons Microsoft has been trying to learn from open source is that -- but they have to fake it." Taylor argues that if there were actually any grassroots support of the OOXML petition it would have been created "ages ago."
OOXML has been [criticized][2] since its inception and with [more and more U.S. states][3] moving toward the existing OpenDocument Format over OOXML, Microsoft is facing an increasingly uphill battle with OOXML.
An earlier attempt at posting an open letter to the open source community [backfired][4] with most critics dismissing it as whining while one former Microsoft employee went so far as to call the letter "professionally embarrassing."
Thus far the online petition is receiving pretty much the same reaction.
Marino Marcich of the [OpenDocument Format Alliance][9] told Compiler earlier this month that with over twenty countries objecting to the OOXML proposal, "the road ahead for OOXML will by no means be easy."
Taylor also suggested to ZDNet that Microsoft was "in major trouble trying to get Open XML pushed through" and the petition "shows their worry."
[1]: http://blog.wired.com/monkeybites/2007/02/microsofts_ooxm.html "Microsoft's OOXML Format Receives More Setbacks"
[2]: http://blog.wired.com/monkeybites/2007/01/more_on_microso.html "More On Microsoft's OOXML Format"
[3]: http://blog.wired.com/monkeybites/2007/03/california_eyes.html "California Eyes Move Towards ODF, Away from OOXML"
[4]: http://blog.wired.com/monkeybites/2007/02/microsofts_open.html "Microsoft's Open Letter Whine"
[5]: http://www.wired.com/software/coolapps/news/2007/01/72403 "MS Fights to Own Your Office Docs"
[6]: http://microsoft.co.uk/openxml/ "OOXML petition"
[7]: http://www.opensourceconsortium.org/ "Open Source Consortium"
[8]: http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,1000000121,39286647,00.htm "Microsoft criticised for Open XML petition"
[9]: http://www.odfalliance.org/ "OpenDocument Format Alliance"
Microsoft Petition A Desperate Bid to Gain OOMXL Support
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