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Formal Protest Filed Asking that Norway's Vote Be Annulled and KEI Statement

By Pamela Jones et al.

The uproar over OOXML just won't quit. There has now been a formal protest filed, stating that due to irregularities, Norway's Yes vote should be changed to No and informing ISO that there has been a request for an investigation by the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry:

Formal protest regarding the Norwegian vote on ISO/IEC DIS 29500

I am writing to you in my capacity as Chairman (of 13 years standing) of the Norwegian mirror committee to ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 34. I wish to inform you of serious irregularities in connection with the Norwegian vote on ISO/IEC DIS 29500 (Office Open XML) and to lodge a formal protest.

You will have been notified that Norway voted to approve OOXML in this ballot. This decision does not reflect the view of the vast majority of the Norwegian committee, 80% of which was against changing Norway's vote from No with comments to Yes.

Because of this irregularity, a call has been made for an investigation by the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry with a view to changing the vote.

I hereby request that the Norwegian decision be suspended pending the results of this investigation.

Yours sincerely,
Steve Pepper
Chairman, SN/K185 (ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 34 mirror committee)
(sign.)

I feel confident this won't be the last. Pepper is the chairman of the committee that had the job of evaluating OOXML.

Update: ISO now says they will tell us the results Wednesday, not today after all. I suspect there may be a connection. And Microsoft says it won't say anything until Wednesday either, "out of respect for the standards process." Hahahahaha. Priceless.

Full post as published by Groklaw on March 31, 2008 (boomark / email).