There is an interesting series of articles by Andy Updegrove on standards wars, written in March 2006, including some historical material. However, there is an important difference between these historical cases and the current ODF/OpenXML case: Microsoft is a convicted monopolist, and the relevant standards body (JTC1, acting for ISO and IEC) is run by governments.
Microsoft is not only the worst monopoly operating in the West today, it has a long history of abusing file formats to create customer lock-in. It is absolutely absurd for governments to allow it to prop up its monopoly position by obtaining an ISO/IEC standard for its products, when there is already an ISO/IEC standard for the exact same area (office documents). It is particularly absurd when Microsoft boycotted the lengthy standards process for ODF and thus forfeited any claim it might have to have the standard tweaked to its benefit. Even more so, when everyone has expressed a willingness to have Microsoft fully represented in the maintenance of ODF, so that future improvements can take into account any particular requirements Microsoft may have.
There is something particularly bizarre about watching European governments agonize about whether to vote in favour of OpenXML when the European Commission is mulling the appropriate remedies against Microsoft for its abusive monopolistic behaviour.
I guess one has to be philosophical. The real skilful conman is adored by his victims.
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