Legal battle over tracking software opens in Erie, Pa.

ERIE, Pa. (AP) — A judge in Erie has heard opening statements in the legal battle over whether a Pennsylvania software company must disable tracking software installed on rental computers.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs told a U.S. Magistrate Judge today that people across the country who have rented computers from Aaron’s Inc. franchisees may be using computers that can track their computer activity.

The Erie Times-News reports lawyers for North East, Pa.-based DesignerWare say the software doesn’t break the law. A lawyer for Aaron’s says corporation-owned stores did not install the software on their computers.

The plaintiffs, Crystal and Brian Byrd of Casper, Wyo, sued DesignerWare and Aaron’s on May 3. They say Aaron’s used the software to track their computer usage and take a photo of Brian Byrd.