Next IT a finalist for tech award

Spokane software security company Next IT is one of three finalists named by the WSA in its annual awards list recognizing Washington state innovators.

The WSA – formerly the Washington Software Alliance – hosts the annual Industry Achievement Awards and has picked 21 nominees for this year’s recognition.

Privately held Next IT was selected as one of three finalists in the Breakthrough Technology of the Year category, along with TravellingWave Inc., of Seattle; and Zumobi, also of Seattle.

Next IT’s CEO Fred Brown was also nominated in the Technology Innovator of the Year category.

The WSA will name the winners Feb. 7.

– Tom Sowa

BOISE

Magazine sued over dining guide

The publisher of the Idaho Mountain Express newspaper has sued the publisher of Sun Valley Magazine, claiming the quarterly magazine wrongfully copied portions of the newspaper company’s dining guide.

In the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court last month, Express Publishing asks that the magazine be barred from selling or distributing any copies of its winter-spring 2008 edition. Express Publishing also is seeking as damages all profits from the alleged copyright violation.

Express Publishing prints the twice-weekly Idaho Mountain Express and Guide newspaper, the quarterly Sun Valley Guide magazine and Tables, an annual dining guide to the region. The defendant in the case, Valley Publishing, publishes the Sun Valley Magazine.

The two companies compete for advertising and publishing business in the Sun Valley resort region.

The lawsuit alleges that Sun Valley Magazine copied entire sections of some text and closely paraphrased other items about local restaurants.

Sun Valley Magazine publisher Laurie Sammis could not immediately be reached for comment. The company’s attorney, Mike Pogue, said the newspaper company’s claims were without merit.

– Associated Press

ATLANTA

Busiest airport is ATL, again

For the third year in a row, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has retained its title as the nation’s busiest airport in terms of flights, according to preliminary government data released Wednesday.

The Atlanta airport logged 994,466 flights in 2007, up 1.8 percent from 976,447 flights in 2006, the Federal Aviation Administration said. Flights include takeoffs and landings.

Its rival, Chicago O’Hare International Airport, was listed second busiest, with 935,000 flights in 2007. That number was down 2.4 percent from the 958,643 flights it had in 2006, the FAA said.

Atlanta and Chicago have run neck and neck in recent years to claim the title of the nation’s – and therefore, the world’s – busiest airport. Atlanta already claimed to be the world’s busiest airport in terms of passengers. The FAA does not maintain passenger statistics.

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport was ranked third, with 686,711 flights in 2007, the FAA said.

– Associated Press