[wellylug] Microsoft's Latest Threats

[Colin Klenner]

Microsoft have previously taken Lindows to US district court (I forget
which one) over the name Lindows and similarity to Windows. The District
Court judge that heard the case threw it out saying that the use by
Microsoft of the name Windows, and attempting to copyright it was
actually in breach of the law as it is a common name. The judge went
further and indicated that Lindows had every right to the name as a
unique name.
This is a typical tactic that Microsoft has used before to hound
competition from the landscape. If it can't succeed directly in USA it
will attempt to find a sympathetic court in Europe and use that as
leverage in the warped places that pass for courts of law in the USA.

I predict this will fail as Lindows is patently not Windows, and makes
no claim even to run Windows software - but I think some parts of
Lindows advertising may be in breach. Conversly any ruling against
Lindows on these grounds will also apply to Microsoft and hurt them.

Colin

On Sun, 2003-12-14 at 04:56, Sam wrote:
> Personally, I think they have every right to go after Lindows.
> 
> It's blatantly obvious that Lindows are banking on the fact that the name
> Windows is so well known among their target audience.
> 
> >From their website: "LindowsOS(TM) 4.0 is a new operating system that
> delivers the power, stability and cost-savings of Linux® with the ease of
> windows."
> 
> I don't like a lot of Microsoft's tactics as a company, but this is
> equivalent to someone starting a company making video cards and calling
> it MVidia.
> 
> On Sat, 13 Dec 2003, Michael Dittmer wrote:
> 
> > http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/34486.html
> >
> > Me wonders about Microsoft intentions???
> >
> >
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