Dear Nagarjuna,

I sent both links to PJ of groklaw. Some Interesting Observations on the MS Response is online now http://www.groklaw.net/comment.php?mode=display&sid=20070709231317298&title=Newspick+OOXML+India%3A+Two+points&type=article&order=&hideanonymous=0&pid=593316#c593367

Minutes of Meeting held on May 07, 2007, with comments http://www.odfalliance.in/files/2007-07-05%20Minutes%20with%20comments%20by%20Microsoft.pdf

Two beautiful points in MS response:

* OOXML does not have a large number of features but is "feature rich". "The statement was not that the size is due to the large number of features but “feature rich”. The size of the document is also due to the fact that it is a fully defined specification." (note, OOXML is incomplete, inconsistent, and lacks semantic, ie, it is a street directory without a map)

* 6000+4000 pages of OOXML specifications are needed because MS couldn't be bothered to ask Oasis to define spreadsheet formula's "As an example, which was cited in the meeting but has not been captured in the minutes, is the specification for implementing formulas in Spreadsheets which is not present in ODF. In this case what would spreadsheet formula specifications be considered as if not a point of standardization."

* In the Response to the Question by Dr. Nagarjuna, MS throws in another "Covenant not to sue", now with regard to the old binary office formats. Instead of giving a clear license to use the specifications, you are now still not allowed to use them. However, MS now promises not to sue you under some conditions, or maybe they will sue you under some other conditions. Just like OOXML. "It is to be noted that Microsoft has made the .doc, .xls, and .ppt binary file format specifications available under a royalty-free covenant not to sue to anyone who wishes to implement all or part of these specifications in their products."

~ Regards Anivar