The Free Internet Group has issued legal proceedings against AltaVista at the High Court in London.

In a short statement issued Friday the British-based Net provider said: "Permission was granted to Free Internet Group to serve proceedings upon AltaVista at its principal office... in Palo Alto, California".

In March, AltaVista announced it intended to offer unmetered Internet access to Net users in Britain.

Despite winning the personal backing of Prime Minister Tony Blair, AltaVista UK MD Andy Mitchell would not say which ISP or telco had been recruited to support the service.

The High Court claim suggests AltaVista had entered an agreement with The Free Internet Group but pulled out of the deal at the last minute.

David Emanuel, director of communications at AltaVista, toldThe Register he was "aware of the complaint".

He said it had "no merit" and defended his company's actions saying that AltaVista had "no obligation" to The Free Internet Group.

He added: "This reeks of a company desperately seeking attention." ®