Microsoft and Apple face patent lawsuit for auto Web updates

Microsoft and Apple are looking down the wrong end of a patent suit over infringements of a patent on web-enabled software updates. UK company BTG is the worldwide exclusive licensee for the patent, owned by New-York-based Teleshuttle Technologies, whose president and founder Richard Reisman is claimed as the inventor. BTG says that the software giants' operating systems, as well as Microsoft Office, infringe patent number 6,557,054, which was granted 29 April 2003 (although the patent claim originated in the early nineties). ...more

Spam levels dropping by a third - security company

Email security company SoftScan claims spam levels dropped an unprecedented 30 per cent in the last week. The reason behind the drop could be because one of the main botnets used for sending out spam email might have temporarily lost control of the infected machines in its network. Other possibilities include the effect of earthquakes in Asia or the fact that more PCs would have been turned off over the Christmas break or replaced with new models. ...more

UK games chart: Need for Speed still drives demand

Now in its eleventh week in the charts, Need For Speed: Underground 2 continues to hold pole position in this week's ELSPA UK games chart. The EA racing game is still holding off Take 2's Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (now in its fourteenth week in the charts), with the movie spin-off The Incredibles resting in third place. The only change in the top five - as before - is Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer 4 swapping fourth and fifth place with EA's FIFA 2005. ...more

MSN UK launches Movie Channel

MSN UK has launched a Movie Channel, as apart of its strategy to expand the content within its entertainment, lifestyle and news offerings. Aimed at casual cinema-goers as well as film buffs, it will carry entertainment news and details of the latest releases. Microsoft boats that it will 'provide one of the most comprehensive movie experiences on the web, giving users the widest range of film content available in the UK. ...more

Warner chief threatens to scalp iTunes

A Warner Music executive has threatened to cut off Apple if Steve Jobs continues to refuse to give ground on iTunes Music Store pricing. Digital strategy chief Michael Nash said during a discussion at a wireless telecoms conference that the music industry has let Apple get too much power in the digital downloads market. 'What if Jobs says 39 cents or 29 cents per download - what then?,' he said. ...more