Microsoft, DOJ Nominate Technical Committee Members

Microsoft and the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and nine settling states--Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Wisconsin--have made two nominations to the three-person technical committee that will oversee Microsoft's compliance with the final ruling in the company's antitrust case. Microsoft appointed Franklin Fite, a former Microsoft employee who oversaw development of Windows CE. The DOJ and settling states appointed another former Microsoft employee, Harry Saal, who also cofounded Nestar Systems and Network Associates. According to the ruling, if Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly approves Fite and Saal, they'll nominate the third member.

Former Microsoft employees can sit on the committee as long as they haven't worked for the company for at least a year; both Fite and Saal left Microsoft in 2000. Also, committee members must have no conflict of interest that would prevent them from performing their duties. Their powers are broad; each member will have access to all of Microsoft's source code and the right to interview any Microsoft employee at any time. Committee members are appointed for 30-month terms, according to the ruling.

Also, Microsoft is forming an internal compliance committee of its own, which will also oversee the company's activities. Microsoft's internal antitrust compliance committee comprises only nonemployee board members, the company says.