Spyware law may see some changes

Many times, the spyware has piggybacked onto downloaded software to change the look of a cursor, add games or add elements to a search bar, he said. Some of the software is useful, he said, "but also tracks what you're doing . . . gathering research in order to sell that demographic."

Internet auction site company eBay is concerned that the act's requirement that data-mining activities be easily removable may affect the company's fraud-detection software. Urquhart said he agrees that the fraud-detection software is a benefit to users and said he would work on resolving that issue.

While Urquhart noted that several computing companies opposed to the act were invited to Wednesday's meeting but did not attend, Jay Magure, director of legislative affairs for 1-800 Contacts Inc., said many major companies are discussing the issues and will speak to the committee later.

Draper-based 1-800 Contacts has been involved in lawsuits with WhenU and at least two other companies that have placed pop-up ads from 1-800 Contacts' competitors over the company's Web site, making them appear as if the offers came from 1-800 Contacts.

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