regards

Stephen (the unsmooth )

It is impossible for MS to abandon their patents, as there is no guarantee that other companies would not attept to undermine them, and at the same time they are under pressure to adhere to open standards.
To create an open source standard, which still includes their own inventions and those which they have acquired, they need to turn a blind eye the use of their IP. There is no guarantee, should they find their market position undermined by these uses of their IP, that their future leadership will not have a change of heart and begin to pursue these patents and take civil action against non-profit organisations which have no method to defend themselves.

I know nothing about the rules or precedents on the Dutch committee. But the UK NB (BSI) also has a “consensus” rule. In the BSI case, consensus has never been that clearly defined, but it is certainly not the same as unanimity. In BSI it is possible for a minority to be overruled provided it is a small minority.

It is unfortunate when there is a consensus rule, and on a particular vote, there is a majority, but no consensus, because that can lead to “Abstain”. But it is up to each NB to settle its own procedure.