Kubi Software announced a joint development agreement with DETERMINE Software. DETERMINE will integrate Kubi technology into its new Collaborative Contract Negotiation Module, enabling users of the DETERMINE contract-management application to collaborate on contract negotiations without leaving their familiar email environment. Kubi Software’s technology provides structured team spaces for individuals and teams to work together within the Microsoft Outlook or IBM Lotus Notes email clients.

Hormel is trying to block trademark filings from SpamArrest, the Seattle-based, spam-fighting company. This article from ABC News also includes this little known fact – residents of Hawaii eat more Spam than residents of any other state, with the Aloha State sucking down 6.7 million cans each year.

A federal judge has ordered Research in Motion to stop selling its BlackBerry wireless email units because of patent violations, but he stayed the decision while the company pursues an appeal. The Mercury News says that the ruling by U.S. District Judge James R. Spencer came after a jury’s finding last year that the BlackBerry infringes on patents held by NTP of Arlington, Va. Spencer ordered RIM to pay $53.7 million in damages.

InfoSync reviews Chapura’s KeySuite, a set of four independent applications, KeyDates, KeyContacts, KeyTasks, and KeyNotes. KeySuite’s main function is to duplicate the functions and fields available in Microsoft Outlook for Windows on the Palm.

RainMaker Software announced that Lindquist & Vennum has licensed its Practice Management Docketing and Exchange Server Integration software. The software provides the ability to schedule and manage the docketing activities of the entire firm including the automatic generation of paperless SmartAlert email tickler messages to remind attorneys of critical dates. The system includes a real-time two-way integration with Microsoft Exchange Server allowing attorneys to view and edit their docket events from an Outlook screen or synchronize them with a PDA.

Avidian Technologies introduced Prophet 2004, a new solution that adds sales and contact management features into Outlook. With Prophet 2004, Outlook 2000/XP acts as a user’s only application for sales tracking, personalized group emails, contact management, reporting, and sharing of sales information, in addition to Outlook features of email, calendar, tasks, and appointments.

UpShot Corporation announced that it has filed a countersuit in the Federal District Court in San Francisco against salesforce.com. UpShot has asked the court to enjoin salesforce.com and its salespeople from using misleading information in its Web site content, sales literature, press materials, and communications to customers. Last month, salesforce.com filed a complaint alleging that UpShot’s recent advertising claims were violations of state and federal laws against false advertising, unfair competition, and unfair business practices.

Snerdware LLC has released AddressX 1.0, the first component of an integration suite for Mac OS X and Microsoft Exchange Server 2000. According to MacCentral, AddressX lets you view and search a company’s Global Address List (GAL) directly from the Mac OS X Address Book.

Yosemite Technologies announced that HP is now shipping TapeWare XE Version 7.0 with a range of HP tape drives. More functionality is available with Version 7.0 through upgrades including: Agent for Microsoft SQL Server, Agent for Microsoft Exchange Server and Library Expansion Pack.

Sun Microsystems unveiled its open source-based desktop environment known as Project Mad Hatter at Linux World. The project targets enterprises looking to drive down the costs of their desktop computing environments. Desktop Linux reports that Project Mad Hatter offers interoperability with Microsoft Office and Exchange, Lotus Notes productivity and communications tools and the enhanced security and authentication services of Java Card and the Sun ONE stack.