IBM drops some counterclaims against SCO

IBM has dropped a number of counterclaims against its opponent SCO because it believes it is not economically worthwhile to do so. In other words, SCO is too small a fish to fry for a slice of its sales. The decision to drop four of IBM's patent counterclaims surfaced in a document filed Thursday in opposition to SCO's requests for an additional 25 depositions. ...more

Spam-fighting operation is shut down

The Open Relay Database (ORDB), which kept a blacklist of open relays being used to send spam, has shut down. ORDB kept a database of the IP addresses of verified open SMTP relays, which sysadmins could block email from. However, the non-profit organisation announced yesterday that 'the general consensus within the team is that open relay RBLs are no longer the most effective way of preventing spam from entering your network as spammers have changed tactics in recent years, as have the anti-spam community. ...more

Microsoft offers 'test drive' of Office 2007

Following the 'success' of the Office 2007 beta programme launched last month, Microsoft is offering users the chance to road test Office 2007 without actually having to download and install the software. Included in the web-based version is a full suite of Office applications including Excel, Access, Word, Publisher, Powerpoint, Project and Outlook. Testers can wander around the applications using Internet Explorer and play with some sample data. ...more

Chip sales hit summer high

The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) has revealed figures that show worldwide sales of semiconductors to have grown 53 per cent, from $11.9bn in August 1999 to $18.2bn in August 2000. ...more

French clothing store pilots porn ads

A French clothing company is out to prove the surprising insight that sex sells and that on the Internet it is possible to show more sex - and presumably shift more product. According to a report in the LA Times Shai clothing has started showing French porn stars cavorting in the buff on a circular bed in a bid to interest the punters in ?60 T-shirts. The ads are also interactive. ...more