The ODF Alliance, which launched on March 3, 2006, was created to resolve a particular problem. Specifically, according to the Alliance, governments and their constituents may not be able to access, retrieve and use critical records, information and documents in the future. To enable the public sector to have greater control over and direct management of their own records, information and documents, the ODF Alliance seeks to promote and advance the use of Open Document Format (ODF). ODF enables the retrieval of information and exchange of documents without regard to the application or platform in which the document was created -- both now and in the future.
"In just a few weeks, there's been terrific momentum in support for the Open Document Format from across the globe," said Ken Wasch, president of the Software & Information Industry Association, a leading member of the Alliance and the principal trade association of the software and digital content industry. "This diverse support grows everyday and ranges from the City of Bloomington, Indiana and the National Archives of Australia to the Indian Institute of Technology and the Bristol City Council (UK). All of our supporters know that ODF represents a better way for all governments to preserve, access and better control their documents."
The ODF Alliance also recently announced the appointment of Marino Marcich as managing director. Marcich will be responsible for implementing the goals of the Alliance, which include educating policy makers on the benefits and opportunities of ODF and working to see ODF used by governments.
Marcich brings more than a decade in working internationally on technology, standards and open market issues. Prior to joining the Alliance, Marcich was vice president of Dutko Global Advisors, an international strategy and management firm. A former senior official at the U.S. Department of State, Marcich has worked in Brussels advising companies on global strategies relating to regulation, standardization and trade issues.
The ODF Alliance is now actively supporting adoption of the Open Document Format as a worldwide standard of the International Standards Organization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The six month approval ballot began November 1, 2005, and ends May 1, 2006.
