IBM may be facing legal action by several facilities management companies, according to the US publication Computer Systems News. Fiserv Inc and Systematics Inc sent representatives to a recent meeting organised by Affiliated Computer Systems Inc to discuss the legality of IBM’s facilities management practices, and Affiliated has complained to the Justice Department that IBM is violating the 1956 Consent Decree by participating in facilities management services. Affiliated wants the other companies to file their own complaints and also, to pressurise ADAPSO, the industry association, into protesting to the Justice Department. Neither Systematics nor Fiserv have commented publicly on the issue, but other companies that attended the meeting include Power Computing Co, Information Network Co, Kimberley-Clark Computer Services and Sungard Computer Services Inc. The firms are expected to present the issue to ADAPSO’s Processing and Network Services division when the board meets on April 21. The board includes an IBM representative.
