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Northwest ; Microsoft Invests in Software Seller Vintela

Posted on: Thursday, 18 November 2004, 06:00 CST

Microsoft Corp. said it made an investment of undisclosed size in Vintela Inc., which sells software that lets companies use Microsoft Windows software management tools to manage Unix and Linux systems. Ziff Davis Media's Microsoft Watch news site, citing unnamed sources, said the investment was less than $10 million.

Vintela, a 50-person company based in Lindon, Utah, said the companies also signed agreements to sell licenses for their products as a package, to cooperate on customer support, and to give Vintela access to Microsoft technology protocols.

Firm says Microsoft should be penalized

Burst.com Inc. asked a U.S. judge to penalize Microsoft Corp. for destroying e-mails it says the world's largest software company should have preserved as evidence in antitrust suits. The material should have been available for jurors who will decide whether Microsoft stole Burst's patented technology for broadcasting sound and video at high speeds over the Internet, Burst said in court papers. The jury should be permitted to infer that Microsoft destroyed the e-mails because the documents would hurt the company's defense, the court papers say.

"Over the past several years, we have produced literally millions and millions of documents and e-mails for the various legal cases we have been involved in, and we have been completely forthcoming with all document requests with this case as well," said Microsoft spokeswoman Stacy Drake.

Oregon startup offers Wi-Fi in U District

A Tigard, Ore., startup by the name of WiFiNation is offering wireless Internet coverage in the University District of Seattle. The company, which is testing the service for free with about 300 customers, said the Wi-Fi network covers more than a 2-mile radius in the neighborhood. WiFiNation, which uses technology from an undisclosed equipment maker and a company called WiFi ToolBox, plans to charge $19.95 per month. If successful, the company plans to roll out service throughout the Seattle area, with some 30 access points, said co-founder Timothy Shipman.

Screenwriter sues Microsoft over game

Academy Award-winning screenwriter Roger Avary has sued Microsoft Corp. in California for purportedly stealing his idea for a virtual yoga studio after the software giant sought his advice for winning over women to videogames, his attorney said yesterday.

Avary seeks at least $30 million plus punitive damages and has asked a judge to stop Microsoft and co-defendant ResponDesign Inc., an Oregon game publisher, from selling the yoga game, called "Yourself! Fitness," for Microsoft's Xbox game console.

ResponDesign Chief Executive Ted Spooner called the claims "completely false," and said Microsoft "did not participate in the development of this product in any way, shape or form." A Microsoft spokeswoman had no comment.

Avary, who won a best screenplay Oscar for 1994's "Pulp Fiction," often consults for video game makers on story lines and was asked by his agents to meet with Microsoft executives in late 2002, his attorney James Webster, said. According to his lawsuit, Avary met several times with the Microsoft team, and in 2003, pitched them a detailed concept for a video game designed to lead players through yoga poses using Microsoft's Xbox game console.

Quick Hits is written by P-I reporters John Cook, Dan Richman and Todd Bishop. Send comments to johncook@seattlepi.com. This report includes information from Reuters, The Associated Press and Bloomberg News.

Source: Seattle Post - Intelligencer

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