Firms settle fight over Real Soda
Two Spokane companies that clashed over the right to the name Real Soda have settled the case, attorneys for both sides said recently.
The two firms sued each other in 2005.
The court settlement includes an agreement not to disclose specific details, said Roberta Reisdorf, co-owner of the company that had used the name Real Soda-Spokane LLC. Reisdorf said she and business partner Stan Ashby are changing their company’s name to RS Beverage Company as of July 1.
The settlement allows competitor Priscilla Holmstead to use the name Real Soda of Spokane, said her attorney Geoff Swindler.
Both companies distribute soda pop purchased from producers around the country.
Washington, D.C.
Symantec has fix to antivirus flaw
Symantec Corp. has repaired a serious problem with versions of its leading antivirus software, which protects some of the world’s largest corporations and U.S. government agencies. The flaw lets hackers steal sensitive data, delete files or implant malicious programs.
Symantec began providing a repairing patch for its software over the Memorial Day weekend, just days after researchers disclosed the problem.
The speedy response – many software manufacturers take months to do similar repairs – underscored the seriousness of the threat, which affected the latest corporate versions of Symantec Antivirus.
Los Angeles
Disney films will be downloadable
Disney films such as “Glory Road” and the animated “Chicken Little” will soon be available to own via computer download from the Internet-based movie site CinemaNow, but the movies can’t be played on a standalone DVD player.
The companies were expected to announce today that CinemaNow will sell the films for $19.95 and in June will allow consumers to transfer films to a portable device running Microsoft Corp.’s Windows Media software.
In a deal similar to others announced in April, The Walt Disney Co. will sell its films online the same day they become available on DVD, thus closing the gap between DVD sales and video-on-demand by several months.
The deal includes new releases plus some library titles.
Washington
SUVs improving rollover control
Sport utility vehicles are making strides to avoid rollovers, the government says, noting that seven in 10 new SUVs are equipped with rollover-reducing electronic stability control.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released new rollover results for 2006 vehicles Tuesday, finding that 39 SUVs earned four-star ratings.
No SUV earned a top five-star rating.
The results – available at www.safercar.gov – are used by consumers to assess a vehicle’s ability to reduce rollovers, which kill more than 10,000 motorists in the United States annually.