AICTC provided ISIRI a list of the problems with OOXML which are at least lack of independence in applications, not supporting the existing standards, incompatibility with previously generated file formats and use of patented components. To read the news in Persian see here.

ISIRI is going to announce its opposition to the proposition of OOXML as an ISO standard in JTC1 committee where it is going to be put on vote this September in ISO's headquarters.

The shift from written documents to digital ones has created extensive problems for the governments such as accessibility, retrieval, edition and usage of documents, information and secret files. To improve governments' control over file, document and information sharing, AICTC is seeking to improve and develop use of Open Standard Formats in Iran.

AICTC intends to educate politicians, CIOs and the public to ensure that public information and documents are made available to the public even in case of today or future technological changes.

Microsoft Corporation is trying to dominate the market by its OOXML format which has been rejected in some of the industrial countries as well as ISO due to its ownership by a particular company and its secrecy in design and implementation.

OOXML which is known as ECMA 76 standard or Microsoft Office Open XML is proprietary standard owned by Microsoft Co. which is uniquely identifiable by the corporation's Office 2007 on its Vista platform and other available software are not able to handle it.

More than 350 members from 50 countries are members of ODF Alliance among which is Iran's AICTC. To see the Middle East members click here.