Microsoft and Its Rivals Take 'Office' Politics Global - WSJ.com

The Open XML/ODF debate expands...  but I assume ISO support for Open XML is inevitable at this point.

Jean Paoli, one of Microsoft's top standards experts, says the company wants Open XML adopted as a standard to encourage rivals to use its format, not squelch interoperability. He points out that other vendors, including Apple Inc., are adopting it. He says IBM is stirring up opposition to Open XML's gaining approval from the International Organization for Standardization, or ISO, to protect its Lotus Notes office suite, which uses the rival format Open Document.

"It is very bizarre to see IBM try to block everyone from using" Open XML, Mr. Paoli says. Open Document is already an ISO standard, but Microsoft says there's room enough for more than one document standard.

Microsoft and Its Rivals Take 'Office' Politics Global - WSJ.com