OpenOffice, Sun and IBM all support the file format. Microsoft says it will not impede adoption of OpenDocument but will still seek to have its own Office Open XML declared a global standard

OpenDocument was ratified as a file format standard Tuesday night by an international standards group, setting the stage for greater worldwide adoption of the open source file format.

Members of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) ratified the file format standard with no opposition among the 31 votes. And because only seven members submitted comments for review, the closely watched OpenDocument standard may be published in fast order.

"With adoption of ODF by ISO/IEC now assured, software that implements the standard will now become more attractive to those European and other government purchasers for whom global adoption by ISO/IEC is either desirable or required," Andrew Updegrove, attorney with law firm Gesmer Updegrove, wrote in his blog.

Productivity applications such as OpenOffice 2.0, Sun Microsystems' StarOffice 8 and IBM's Workplace support OpenDocument. Microsoft, however, is not supporting OpenDocument and instead is seeking ISO standardisation for its own Office Open XML formats.

Although Microsoft sits on the ballot resolution committee that will have a chance to review the ISO/IEC's comments on OpenDocument, competitors such as Sun Microsystems are not worried that Microsoft will affect the publication of the newly ratified standard.

"It would be hard for Microsoft to now interfere with the process," said Simon Phipps, Sun's chief open source officer, noting that the standard was ratified with no opposition. "We know we have the strongest validation as possible for this file format."

Microsoft said it will support interoperability with OpenDocument and not oppose its standardisation or use.

However, Jason Matusow, Microsoft director of standards affairs, said in a statement: "The ODF format is limited to the features and performance of OpenOffice and StarOffice and would not satisfy most of our Microsoft Office customers today."

The process to move the standard to publication may come quickly, said a representative for the American Standards Institute, which represents the United States at the ISO. The spokesman noted that in similar situations his organisation has seen the process take from weeks to several months for a standard to be published.

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