First Suits Filed Under Washington Spyware Law (Februray 7, 2006)
February 7, 2006
First Suits Filed Under Washington Spyware Law (February 7, 2006)
Microsoft Corp. and Washington State have filed suits against Secure Computer LLC under the recently enacted Washington Computer Spyware Act and the federal CAN-SPAM Act. These statutes bar software providers from falsely telling consumers they need to download spyware-removal or other purported computer security programs. The suit alleges that Secure Computer violated the laws by promoting its software programs, which purportedly convinced people, falsely, that their computers were infected with spyware or other harmful programs to induce them to download the commpany’s products
IN addition to the Spyware Act and CAN-SPAM claims, Microsoft’s suit allges that Secure Computer has infringed on its tradaemarks by its use of its marks such as “Microsoft” and “Internet Explorer,” and it claims trademark infringement and fals designation of origin under the Lanham Act.