Tech Watch.

• Author: KERVEN, ANNE

Talk is cheap, but maybe not in the legislature. Colorado's high-technology industries will watch some issues closely.

The Colorado Software Association -- which encompasses software, Internet and e-commerce business -- has its eye on a couple of areas:

* Last year, the bio-tech industry was granted tax credits on its R&D, a credit CSA would like to see extend to R&D in the software industry.

* While legislation was passed last year easing the use of digital signatures, the association wants to see Colorado law comparable to California's more liberal legislation.

"The difference is the limitations and how broad-reaching they are," said Executive Director Cathy Ewing. The difference also puts Colorado's tech industry at a competitive disadvantage with California when attracting more companies to the state.

* CSA is watching Internet taxation at a federal level, which...