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Matching Microsoft On Interoperability
Microsoft’s concession to offer a so-called “browser ballot” in the European version of Windows 7 has been covered extensively. European buyers of Windows 7 will, except when the OEM has a separate deal, be presented with a choice of browsers, ordered by estimated market share. Microsoft has also released a less covered document [.doc] that extends the idea of a ballot to file formats in Office 14:
“Beginning with the release of Office 14, end users that purchase Microsoft’s Primary PC Productivity Applications in the EEA in both the OEM and retail channel will be prompted in an unbiased way to select default file format (from options that include ODF)…”
Microsoft hasn’t exactly been friendly to open standards in the past, but this is a serious concession that will, if properly implemented, change the balance of file formats.
As much as the FSF would like to continue framing Microsoft as the bad guy in every situation, they aren’t. The Microsoft of today is very different from the Microsoft of 5 years ago, and supporters of open standards should start to match their moves towards interoperability.
The best reaction to this news would be for OpenOffice.org and other prominent open-source desktop productivity applications to offer a file format ballot as well.This ballot would offer ODF, Microsoft’s .doc binary formats, and OOXML.
This proposal will, undoubtably, be contriversal. This move would have a number of benefits, though.
First, it offers more choice to users. Why shouldn’t I be able to choose to use Microsoft’s file formats if I prefer? In fact, I do use Microsoft’s older binary file formats most of the time, since it is essential that I am able to open files I create with unknown versions of Office when I don’t have my computer with me. I’m am completely in support of open-standards, but I am also in support of choice.
Second, matching Microsoft’s moves towards interoperability would cast free software advocates and users in a better light. Thanks to the FSF’s childish campaigns (see the instructions) and the blatent FUD of unnamed anti-Novell sites, free software advocates are usually viewed as borderline insane extremists. If OpenOffice publically recognized Microsoft’s positive steps and offered their own ballot, it would help remedy this situation. (The FSF does a lot of great work and, as he is fond of pointing out, without some of Stallman’s work we wouldn’t have Linux as we have it today. That doesn’t excuse anything, though.)
Free software advocates can’t just continue to pretend Microsoft is a big evil corporation. Perhaps they are, but they’re a lot less evil and a little less big than they used to be. Instead of dismissing every move Microsoft takes as a trap, let’s admit it was a good move and thank them for it.
Time and time again the EU has run after Microsoft, hoping to keep them in check and ensure some competition, but sometimes you have to wonder if they are just picking on the big guy. After pressure from the EU, Microsoft has decided to sell Windows 7 without IE, but even that isn’t enough.
Rather than not bundling any web browser, the EU would apparently prefer they gave a choice of several. Which browsers, then, will make the list? And do you really expect Microsoft to bundle Firefox? I’m all in favor of getting people off of IE for the sake of every web developer out there, but this is getting a little extreme.
It looks like the EU might be tightening the leash on Microsoft a little too tightly. You can’t expect no bundling and a web browser included at the same time.
Microsoft Sucks Up to the EU, EU Gives Microsoft a $1.35 Billion Fine to Suck On
Earlier this week Microsoft promised to be friendlier towards open-source software in what was basically an attempt to suck up to the EU, however, in a recent development, it turns out that the EU was not done bashing Microsoft over the head for all the stuff they did in the past. To resolve this situation, the EU has issued a big fat bill for $1.35 billion (many times more than previous fines) to cover all the stuff they never got a chance to investigate. With this settled, the EU will be able to focus on investigating Microsoft for whatever they think of next.
OK, the EU is not really just giving Microsoft a bill for all the stuff they never got to investigate, but, according to Reuters, they did just fine Microsoft a record amount just days after Microsoft issued a press release presumably intended to suck up to the EU. The Reuters article says the real reason for the fine is ”using high prices to discourage software competition.” Although I cannot claim to understand it entirely, I gather this specific case has to do with not making interoperability information avaliable enough or cheap enough and thus discoraging competition. Of course it could just be the EU wants their money before Microsoft goes broke buying Yahoo.