Microsoft sues Linux start-up over name (article)

[DnetMHZ]

from news.com

http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-8246647.html

...speechless...

DnetMHZ

 

[Priit]

Maybe someone should sue M$ for making their WinXP looking like KDE: people might confuse XP with KDE and buy Windblows instead of linux or sth... <- please don't read it you are convinced MS fanatic.

 

[Saltin]

Why is this a suprise? It's a nice payback to all the companies MS had to payoff to be able to register Windows as a trademark in the first place. "lindows" is on very weak legal ground, name wise. Personally, I can't wait to see MS "lawyer the fcuk out of them". It's fair play this time.

 

[Dengar]

It seems to me that they wanted to be sued for the exposure. They will change their name.

 

[aircooled]

Microsoft just gave Lindows the best free advertising they could ask for. Not only is it on the web, but I just saw it on TV too. So now more people than ever know what it is and what it does without Lindows paying a dime.

 

[Saltin]

Too bad none of them will take the time to actually figure out how to use it, eh?

 

[SagaLore]

I hope Lindows wins.

There are A LOT of companies with virtually identical names. Unless MicroSoft owns the rights to "Lindows", then they have no legal grounds to sue. Note in the article that Microsoft is seeking monetary damages - it's a blatant attempt to put the company out of business before it gets business.

 

[UnixFreak]

I think M$ has good ground to stand on in this case. As much as I hate to side with them. But seeking monetary damages, for a product lindows hasnt made money on yet? Thats wrong.



<< Note in the article that Microsoft is seeking monetary damages - it's a blatant attempt to put the company out of business before it gets business. >>



I agree completely. I hope Lindows wins, too.

I'll be putting a free ad on all my sites for them too. Hopefully, I can build some interest in thier product.

 

[owensdj]

I can kind of understand why Microsoft might be upset. What do you think Coca-Cola would do if a company started selling a soft drink called Koke?

 

[Psychoholic]

<< Maybe someone should sue M$ for making their WinXP looking like KDE >>


Oh boy, the chicken or the egg argument again.... <rolleyes>

What the hell, if Netscape can use taxpayer funds to start a bitch and whine session in court why can't Microsoft tie up the courts time with a suit as well??? Tit for tat.

 

[CQuinn]

Companies sometimes do have to protect their trademarks against infringement,
or they may lose on protest of further infringement at a later date.

From the Lindows.com FAQ



<< Who is behind Lindows.com?
Michael Robertson is the CEO, founder, and central visionary behind Lindows.com.
Prior to starting Lindows.com, he was the founder and CEO of MP3.com, the Internet's
premier Music Service Provider. MP3.com was sold in September of 2001 and is now a
wholly owned subsidiary of Vivendi Universal (NYSE: V). Michael has rallied a core
team of smart and motivated individuals and partners, both inside and outside of
Lindows.com, to help bring his vision to life. Michael knows building a new OS is not
going to be easy, but he has a well-known reputation from taking on big challenges. >>

 

[extro]

Well if Lindows' CEO is the same guy who used to run MP3.COM he's used to being sued.

 

[NorthenLove]

How about they change it too Lindoze ? There's no way they can prove that that name is infringing on Windows if they change it to Lindoze.

 

[neuralfx]

<< Why is this a suprise? It's a nice payback to all the companies MS had to payoff to be able to register Windows as a trademark in the first place. "lindows" is on very weak legal ground, name wise. Personally, I can't wait to see MS "lawyer the fcuk out of them". It's fair play this time. >>




what are you on about? "very weak legal ground" .. oh please, its just ms suing for the sake for suing .. i mean maybe you agree that ms should be able to patent words like "Word" .. but in reality its ridiculous ..
-neural

 

[vaughanie]

did you see this page?



<< Lindows, (www.lindows.com) has a name that in itself is genius. It's software that combines Linux and Windows without violating any trademark or copyright--although I bet Microsoft will sue at some point. >>



this is just inviting publicity caused by a legal debate.

 

[NorthenLove]

<<

<< Maybe someone should sue M$ for making their WinXP looking like KDE >>


Oh boy, the chicken or the egg argument again.... <rolleyes>

What the hell, if Netscape can use taxpayer funds to start a bitch and whine session in court why can't Microsoft tie up the courts time with a suit as well??? Tit for tat. >>




Obviously it wasn't bitching and whinnying since the courts actually found M$ guilty of throwing it's weight around and using it's power as a monopoly to squash competition in a illegal manner.

 

[n0cmonkey]

<<

<< Maybe someone should sue M$ for making their WinXP looking like KDE >>

Oh boy, the chicken or the egg argument again.... <rolleyes> >>



I deleted the rest of the comment because I do not want to go into that. Its a whole other thread, do a search (you know how ) you'll find them. And you will probably see me and you arguing a little bit. Anyhow, IE6 on XP looks a lot like Mandrake. I saw the buttons at the top and immediately thought of Mandrake.

SSH.com lost the trademark debate for SSH. But they actually had a good reason. Customers, and potential customers, were getting confused about OpenSSH and SSH. Different products doing the same thing. Fortunately for Microsoft, I dont think anyone will be confused by the name "Lindows". No one in my family would think Lindows and Windows are the same thing. So the name is different enough in my opinion. If the name was something like linuxwindows or some crap then I think Microsoft would have a *REAL* case.

Everyone, say your good-byes to another linux company that never managed to produce anything...