Spreadsheet giant accuses small clones of copyright infringement. (in General News and Notes)

Spreadsheet Giant Accuses Small Clones of Copyright Infringement Lotus Development Corp. recently charged Mosaic Software, Inc. and Paperback Software International with copyright infringement, in an action that some computer law specialists say could hurt small software makers. Filed in U.S. District Court in Boston, the suits seek injunctions and damages against Mosaic and Paperback for copyright infringement, false advertising, and unfair trade practices.

The suits spotlight ongoing debate over new software copyright laws that some consider overprotective. Mosaic's The Twin and Paperback's VP Planner, so-called spreadsheet clones, are said to duplicate the "look …