NISO and OASIS Exchange Memberships

["Carol Geyer" <cgeyer7@home.com>]

NISO and OASIS Exchange Memberships:
Leading Organizations Work Together to Advocate Interoperability Through
XML/SGML

Bethesda, MD and Boston, MA USA; May 24, 2000--The National Information
Standards Organization (NISO) and OASIS today announced that they have
exchanged memberships in an effort to further standards for structured
documents within the information industry.  The reciprocal membership opens
communication between the industry-vertical NISO, which develops technical
standards for libraries, publishers and information services and the
cross-industry efforts of OASIS, which advances XML and SGML structured data
interoperability.

“This announcement formalizes the working relationship between NISO and
OASIS,” explained Pat Harris, executive director of NISO.  “As NISO
standards must increasingly address applications on the web, the use of
structured schemas such as XML and SGML are key for interoperability.  The
partnership will enable NISO to keep its members current on XML and SGML
developments. It will give the OASIS community more insight into how XML and
SGML are being applied in the information industry community.”

Laura Walker, executive director of OASIS, described the agreement as a
great opportunity for both OASIS and NISO.  “The rich experiences of the
information industry community in XML and SGML development will be an asset
for the OASIS community, which serves as a vendor-neutral resource for
vertical industry groups seeking to build consensus on implementations of
structured documents.”

About NISO
The National Information Standards Organization (NISO) is a non-profit
organization accredited by the American National Standards Institute that
develops and promotes consensus-approved standards used in library services,
publishing, and many other information-related industries. NISO standards
address the communication needs of these industries in areas such as
information retrieval, preservation of materials, information transfer,
forms and records, identification systems, publication formats, and
equipment and supplies.

About OASIS
OASIS (http://www.oasis-open.org) is a non-profit, international consortium
dedicated solely to product-independent data and content interchange.
Focusing on product interoperability, OASIS embraces the complete spectrum
of structured information standards including XML, SGML and CGM. OASIS
sponsors include Adobe Systems, Aerospatiale, AND-USA, Arbortext, BEA
Systems, Bentley Systems, Boeing, Bowstreet, Bridge, Chrystal Software,
Cohesia, Commerce One, CommerceNet, CompTIA, Corel, DataChannel, DMSi,
Documentum, Dun & Bradstreet, eCredit.com, Enigma, eXcelon, Extricity
Software, GCA, Health Level Seven, IBM, InformIT, Informix, InterCAP,
Interleaf, Interwoven, ISOGEN, ITEDO, JetForm, Keyfile, Logistics Management
Institute, Mercator Software, Microsoft, NextPage, NII Enterprise Promotion
Association, Nimble.com, NIST, Object Management Group (OMG), Open
Applications Group, Pick Systems, POET Software, ProNet Technology Partners,
Reed Technology, Reuters, Sabre, SAP, Sequoia Software, SoftQuad, Software
AG, STEP, StreamServe, Sun Microsystems, Synthbank, Visa, Wavo, Webb
Interactive Services, webMethods, Whitehill Technologies, Xerox,
XMLSolutions and XyEnterprise.

About XML.ORG
XML.ORG (http://xml.org) is a vendor-neutral community for advancing XML
industry standardization. Hosted by OASIS, the XML.ORG website provides news
and information about the application of XML in electronic business
environments. XML.ORG offers valuable online tools, such as the XML.ORG
Catalog, a clearinghouse for industry-specific or cross-industry XML
specifications. Sponsors of XML.ORG include DataChannel, Documentum,
Commerce One, GCA, IBM, Mercator Software, SAP, SoftQuad and Sun
Microsystems.

# # #

For more information:

Nancy Knight
Associate Director
NISO
(301) 654-2512
nknight@niso.org

Carol Geyer
Media Relations Consultant
OASIS
+1.941.926.2322
carol.geyer@oasis-open.org