Microsoft file format fails to gain backing as global standard

SAN FRANCISCO — A file format heavily promoted by Microsoft has failed to gain initial approval as an international standard, reflecting a continuing struggle between the company and critics who contend that it abuses its market dominance.

Microsoft has developed the Open XML file format, a program used to open and use documents and files stored in a computer, to ensure functionality with its Office software applications. The company has pushed hard for regulators and standards bodies to approve Open XML as a so-called "open" format, or one that is also broadly compatible with office software from competing companies.

But according to a statement released early Tuesday by the International Organization for Standardization — also known by its international abbreviation "ISO" — a ballot process that ended Sunday failed to approve Open XML as an international standard.

Approval requires at least two-thirds of votes cast by individual national standards bodies to be positive, and no more than one-quarter to be negative. But, the ISO said, "neither of these criteria were achieved" for Open XML, "with 53 percent of votes cast by national bodies participating ... being positive and 26 percent of national votes cast being negative."

A meeting will be held in February to discuss comments made by the national bodies on Open XML, and it may then subsequently be approved as an international standard, the ISO said in its release.

Critics of Open XML say a file format developed by a single company will not ensure openness. Instead, many of these critics tout Open Document Format, or ODF, a file format they say will ensure compatibility with technology from a wider array of companies, indefinitely.

"The drama will now switch to the long run-up to the February ... meeting, and to how much Microsoft will be willing to change [Open XML] in order to convert a sufficient number of no votes to yes votes, in order to finally gain approval, if it can, for its beleaguered specification," said Andrew Updegrove, an attorney with Gesmer Updegrove in Boston who has closely followed the debate over Open XML.

Open XML is the default format in Microsoft's Office 2007 suite of software applications, such as those for word processing and spreadsheets. The Office line of software is one of the most significant revenue sources for the company.

In a prepared release early Tuesday, Microsoft favorably compared the early ISO vote results on Open XML with that held previously for ODF.

"Fifty-one ISO members voicing support at this preliminary stage of the process compares favorably with the 32 ISO members supporting Open Document Format ... at the end of its process," Microsoft said.

"Technical experts around the world have provided invaluable feedback and technical recommendations for evolving the [Open XML] format," said Tom Robertson, general manager for interoperability and standards at Microsoft.

"The high quality of the Open XML format will be improved as a result of this process. ... We believe that the ISO National Bodies will be pleased with the results," Robertson said.