Microsoft Corp wants to stop Sun Microsystems Inc pushing Java through an International Standards Organizations process via a rather crafty route and has lodged new objections to Sun’s proposal. Sun wants to be given the right to submit Java to ISO for standardization in such a way that requires little, if any review, by members of an ISO group which sets standards in the area of programming languages. Until now only other standards groups and consortia have been granted this right. Many vendors agree with Microsoft that Sun should not be allowed to submit Java for standardisation in this way and that it ought to be properly reviewed. Despite this, many of ISO’s international members and affiliates side with Sun. Microsoft has raised many objections to Sun’s proposal (CI No 3,153), and Sun has amended its proposal somewhat. However in a letter sent to the ISO group Microsoft now says Sun’s amendment fails to address many of the concerns raised about the application both in the US and abroad. The documents reinforce the view of numerous interested parties that Sun wants the benefit of an ISO standard, but is unwilling to part with even the minimum intellectual property rights or to commit to an open process for developing the technology in the future. Microsoft says Sun hasn’t responded to the central concern of many commentators that it is inappropriate for a single, for-profit entity to serve as what is called a PAS submitter. It says Sun also does not address the related concern that its process for evolving the specifications is closed and tied to Sun’s own proprietary hardware and software technologies. Microsoft can only conclude that Sun is unwilling to commit to an open process, yet is intent on achieving the appearance of such a process that ISO status for Java would provide.
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