Winning recognition for the "Open XML" formats in the new Office 2007 as international standards is a vital step for Microsoft. Without it, governments around the world will be less likely to adopt the new formats (and the Microsoft software in which they are embedded.)
So it is at the least inconvenient for Redmond, and potentially more worrying, that the International Standards Organisation has just added another three months to its review of the matter, following representations from the UK (and possibly other countries.) The ISO already recognises the rival Open Document Format, which has been gaining ground, so matching that is a must for Microsoft. How damaging could this be? Impossible to tell until more details of potential objections become clear, but being forced to return to the drawing board at this stage could cause Microsoft real problems.
Meanwhile, Texas has become the latest US state to join the rush to "open" document formats.
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