Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2001/01/11/altavista_inc_to_settle_fig/

AltaVista Inc to settle FIG court case?

Maybe, maybe not - but that's brinkmanship for you

By Tim Richardson

Posted in Legal, 11th January 2001 15:08 GMT

Update AltaVista Inc could be ready to settle its £215 million dispute with The Free Internet Group (FIG) within the next week, according to New Media Age.

Citing sources "close to the case", it claims the US dotcom doesn't have the appetite for a High Court battle. Furthermore, the loss of senior management has also made a court appearance less appealing.

David Emanuel, director of communications at AltaVista Inc, told The Register today that both sides were due to meet in the High Court in London next week.

But he denied that AltaVista Inc was prepared to give in without a fight.

"We're fully prepared that it will proceed to court," he said.

Asked whether there was still time to settle the case before it came to court, he said AltaVista Inc would be "open to such overtures" from FIG.

No one from FIG was available for comment by press time.

Last year FIG alleged that AltaVista Inc pulled out of a contract relating to the provision of unmetered Net access in the UK.

AltaVista UK subsequently went on to offer unmetered Net access but never delivered the service.

AltaVista Inc has always dismissed FIG's claim. In June, Emanuel told The Register that the allegations had "no merit".

Describing FIG's action, he said: "This reeks of a company desperately seeking attention." ®

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