____/ [H]omer on Tuesday 25 March 2008 22:31 : \____
> Roy Schestowitz wrote:
>
> [quote Martin Bryan]
>> The disparity of rules for PAS, Fast-Track and ISO committee
>> generated standards is fast making ISO a laughing stock in IT
>> circles. The days of open standards development are fast
>> disappearing. Instead we are getting “standardization by corporation”
> [/quote]
>
> Or “standardisation by corruption”
>
> One thing to bear in mind, is that the demise of ISO, and other
> standards bodies, would suit Microsoft's purposes perfectly, indeed it's
> likely that they /devised/ their downfall to begin with.
>
> If Microsoft succeeds in corrupting standards bodies then they win
> standards ratification (even if those "standards" are unworthy), and if
> (despite that corruption) they fail in their efforts, then they still
> "win" by destroying standards bodies (in reputation at least, which for
> a standards body is /everything/), thus making impartial standardisation
> irrelevant. All that will remain is *de facto* standards, which
> Microsoft maintains by protecting its monopoly (and vice versa).
>
> It's a win/win deal for the Vole, either way.
>
> IOW this is just Microsoft's typical MO of "assimilate or destroy".
>
> I see exactly the same thing happening with Mono, which will either
> assimilate FOSS into Microsoft's portfolio of Intellectual Monopoly, or
> destroy it with distrust and division. I'm sure that's the plan, at least.
>
> The only hope to stop and reverse this corruption, is to stop Microsoft
> ... permanently. The only hope we have of doing that, is with the law.
> But the law is in the pocket of corrupt politicians and corporations, so
> that just leaves a handful of crusaders like Lessig, or on the other
> side of the pond - Kroes. And people like us who expose that corruption.
Kroes sort of fell for the RAND scam. Hopefully she'll realise this soon. The
Europa site has recently issued several press releases which favour FOSS. It
did so very quietly (low profile), some say because it does not want to give
the impression that it /actively/ fights the abusive monopolist.
As you say, dead standards bodies and division serve Microsoft. The Novell deal
is another example and all have crossed my mind before. Money corrupts.
In a land/state of chaos, the villains rule.
--
~~ Best of wishes
Roy S. Schestowitz | "How do I set my laser printer on stun?"
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