Firm hits out at spyware description

THE MAKERS of ISearch and IDownload have sent a "cease and desist" letter to security site Castle Cops, for classifying their products as "Spyware"

The outfit accuses Castle Cops of being falsely disparaging iDownload's product and threatens it with legal action if it doesn't stop calling it anything other than adware.

The Spyware Warrior blog has also received a similar missive.

The letter to Castle Cops, can be seen here.

M'Learned friends for Castle Cops have penned a reply to the outfit saying that it has not made or published any statement which can be said to disparage the iDownload/iSearch brand. It says that there is no universal definition of spyware, nor is there a well known meaning within the public conscience.

"Nevertheless, it appears that software disseminated by iDownload/iSearch would likely be regulated as illegal in California under California Business And Professions Code Sections 22947-22947.6 otherwise known as the Consumer Protection Against Computer Spyware Act," the lawyers wrote.

The letter claims that Symantec, Lavasoft, Computer Associates, Spyware Warrior, Spyware Blaster,and Doxdesk, all report that the iSearch toolbar, published by iDownload is spyware. µ