Thomson Reuters Corp. must remove a crucial layer of software from its instant messaging service beginning Friday under a federal court order that threatens to disrupt communications within dozens of stock brokerages and banks.

The decision issued Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon penalized Thomson Reuters for being two weeks late with its final licensing payment to Silicon Valley software maker FaceTime Communications Inc.

Reuters, the news and info service bought by Thomson Financial earlier that year, stitched FaceTime’s

computer coding into an instant messaging service that has been sold to about 100 customers in the financial services industry.

FaceTime’s technology provides Reuters’ instant messaging customers with two vital features — protection against computer hackers and tools to comply with a variety of government regulations that include a mandate to store the electronic conversations of securities traders and brokers.

The decision won’t affect banks and brokers that independently license FaceTime’s tools […]

Orginal post by Top Tech News