As federal oversight of Microsoft’s 2002 anti-trust ruling winds towards its November 2009 conclusion, technical experts have indicated that Windows 7 will be tested “more thoroughly” than prior Redmond offerings.
A three-member panel operating for federal antitrust officials is believed to have been investigating Windows 7’s underpinnings as early as March of last year. However, expected documentation delivered in December in advance of Windows 7’s popular first beta has prompted additional scrutiny from the review board.
A report delivered to U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, the Department of Justice, 17 states and the District of Columbia indicates that the newest specification is composed of 117 new or changed documents. The report also reveals that the panel of experts has altered its review strategy to more thoroughly analyze Microsoft’s submission.
“In light of the number of new documents that need to be reviewed, the TC is going to shift its focus to direct review of the documents by the TC’s engineers as the most efficient method of identifying issues with the documentation,” the report reads. “The revised strategy will enable the TC to review the new Windows 7 and system documents more thoroughly than it would otherwise, which is particularly desirable given the significance of these new documents to the project as a whole.”
Microsoft has been under the thumb of federal officials since settling on charges of monopolistic practices in 2002. Though Microsoft was to be freed of oversight in November 27, complaints from eleven state attorney generals successfully lobbied to extend Kollar-Kotelly’s role until November of this year.
Under the terms of the settlement, Microsoft must frequently submit documentation regarding protocols, stacks and APIs to the court. A technical panel operating under the auspices of the USDOJ reviews Microsoft’s documents to ensure that the firm is not abusing its market position to quell third-party software with elements of Windows’ design.
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