Microsoft is expected to win a vote this week to have its Office Open XML document format accepted as an international standard, according to people tracking the vote. The move would help Microsoft sustain its advantage in the growing field of open document formats. Pieter Hintjens, president of a Brussels-based opposition group, commented, "After what basically has amounted to unprecedented lobbying, I think that Microsoft's standard is going to get the necessary amount of support." This comes despite countries such as Japan, Canada, India, China, Brazil, France and Britain voting against Microsoft, according to a tally by Hintjens' group. Countries voting in favor of Microsoft include the U.S., Switzerland, Portugal and Germany. Microsoft needs two-thirds of the votes from 37-countries representing a joint committee of two international 
standards bodies, the International Organization for Standardization [ISO] and the International Electrotechnical Commission [IEC]. Also, Office Open XML cannot be opposed by more than 25% of all voting countries. Electronic voting closed Sunday and results are expected Tuesday or Wednesday. The OpenDocument Format, developed by an IBM-led group, was the first to become an international standard in May 2006. Shares of Microsoft gained 1% last Friday to $28.73.
Sources: New York Times
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