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ARTICLE · 02 FEBRUARY 2006

Getting Back To Symantecs: The Battle For Internet Security

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP
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In the USA, Symantec has filed a lawsuit against Hotbar.com over Symantec’s right to classify certain Hotbar programs as ‘adware’. The lawsuit highlights the legal problems that internet security firms are facing in their attempts to define adware and spyware.

United KingdomMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Simon Shooter
Simon Shooter

In the USA, Symantec has filed a lawsuit against Hotbar.com over Symantec’s right to classify certain Hotbar programs as ‘adware’. The lawsuit highlights the legal problems that internet security firms are facing in their attempts to define adware and spyware, including threats of libel actions from software developers who allege that classifying their products as adware or spyware causes damage to their reputation.

Symantec, the internet security firm that develops tools for detecting and removing malicious software such as viruses, adware and spyware, has launched a legal battle against Hotbar.com over Symantec’s right to classify certain Hotbar programs as ‘adware’. Symantec filed its lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division, on 6 June 2005.

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