Whats the latest in terms of threats to anti-adware companies who label certain software “spyware”?
Edelman: The background here is that historically users have been tricked into getting all manner of unwanted software into their computers. Their computers become slow, unreliable. Companies step in to help by offering detection programs. From the perspective of the spyware makers, these detection programs are bandits: They take the spyware off the users’ computer after the spyware makers have gone to such lengths to infect the computers in the first place. So the spyware companies have been attempting intimidation tactics to force the removers to omit removal of particular advertising software. Name names. Who’s been the most litigious? Edelman: One of the few companies to file suit is Claria, which sued PC Pitstop in 2003 alleging unfair business practices when PC Pitstop told its users its view of Claria’s software. And New.net took the novel approach of suing Lavasoft in federal court. Mostly, these threats don’t lead to litigation. Either the spyware vendors give up or they succe
