# LibreOffice analyzes the broken standardization of OOXML

> **Key takeaway:** The LibreOffice Document Foundation details how the OOXML standardization process was flawed and influenced by proprietary interests.

**Published:** 2026-10-23T10:17:31+00:00 
**Source:** LibreOffice Document Foundation Announcements 
**Category:** foss-apps 
**Canonical URL:** https://fosswire.org/news/libreoffice-analyzes-the-broken-standardization-of-ooxml.html 

## Summary
The LibreOffice Document Foundation has published a historical analysis of the ISO/IEC 29500 standardization process for Microsoft's OOXML format. The report describes a process characterized by procedural irregularities, technical objections from various nations, and attempts to bypass rigorous review. It contrasts this with the open ODF standard to highlight the challenges of proprietary formats masquerading as international standards.

## Flaws in the OOXML standardization process
- The 6,000-page specification was submitted via a "fast-track" procedure intended for short, well-established documents.
- **Brazil** raised over 60 technical objections regarding non-standard date formats and language support.
- **India** contested the format's incompatibility with the ISO ODF standard.
- **France** proposed separating the specification into a clean core and a compatibility layer.
- Reports indicated irregularities in national committees, such as a sudden influx of Microsoft business partners in **Italy** and **Portugal**.

## Why it matters
The analysis highlights the tension between open standards like ODF and proprietary formats that seek ISO approval, impacting vendor independence for public institutions.