Java ISO standards battle rages

Electronic News, Jan 26, 1998 by Amy Zuckerman

Netscape and Standards Bodies React

Netscape has been allied with Sun Microsystems in the Java standards debate. Last week the Internet search giant laid off a number of employees, including standards chief Carl Cargill. It's unknown what tact Netscape will take now that Mr. Cargill--one of the best known American standards strategists--has departed, reportedly to set up his own consultancy. Despite other differences, Mr. Cargill shares Messrs. Fitzgerald and Willingmyre's concerns over the efficacy of the international standards process as it relates to the high-tech arena.

During an interview not long before he left Netscape, Mr. Cargill contended that neither ISO nor the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) were properly set up to handle development of standards in a high-speed, competi- tive environment. He said he was considering calling for creation of a high-tech council to debate how these sorts of standards should be developed in the future.

"What Microsoft and Sun choose to say about each other outside ISO is their business. It's not for us to comment," reports an ISO spokesman.

"ISO's business is making sure that the development process of international standards is open and transparent. Our rules have been fairly applied in the case of Sun's application for approval as a PAS submitter. They will be fairly applied if JAVA is submitted to JTC1 for consideration as an international standard, and this submission is debated and processed by JTC1." ANSI has been only slightly less reticent, despite the fact that both Messrs. Cargill and Mitchell have contended that the American standards body originally urged Sun Microsystems to bring Java into the international arena. Michael Hoynes, VP of marketing and communication at ANSI, submitted the following statement in response to queries about ANSI's role in urging Sun Microsystems to submit the Java platform as an international standard:

"ANSI, as the national body responsible for facilitating the U.S. voluntary standards consensus standards system, welcomes and encourages any organiza- tion, company or individual to utilize the voluntary consensus standards sys- tem to achieve their objectives. Once the organization, company or individual makes the decision to utilize the system, ANSI staff will provide all the appropriate assistance in following the procedures and guidelines of the pro- cess, and when required, help explore acceptable alternatives. ANSI welcomes every business sector to utilize the voluntary standards system and is prepared to help facilitate the process."