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Legal Issues

by Mike Masnick

Fri, Dec 21st 2001 12:59am





Microsoft Sues Lindows

from the bad-Lindows,-bad dept

Well, that didn't take long at all. Microsoft is suing Lindows for trademark violation. Lindows, of course, is the Michael Robertson company that is coming out with a modified version of Linux with Wine, to allow users to easily run Windows-based programs. I'm not sure how I feel about this one. I can see why Microsoft is suing, though, I really doubt that Lindows is going to confuse to many people into thinking it's a Microsoft supported project. The only thought here is the conspiracy theory that Microsoft is working on their own Linux distribution and want the name back for themselves - but that's just my delusional brain making stuff up.

4 Comments | Leave a Comment..


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  1.  

    They may have a case

    identicon
    Tech 'n Artist, Dec 21st, 2001 @ 6:39am

    I have no love lost for MicroSoft, although my friend who works in computer security really appreciates them.

    Anyway, while it sounds like satire or a play on words, MicroSoft may have a case that the business currently known as Lindows may be infringing on the Windows brand name. But then I am not a lawyer and am only offering a bit more than an opinion. This will will probably end up in the legal system and guess who has the deep pockets.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  

    This isn't such a bad thing

    identicon
    Michael Armstrong, Dec 21st, 2001 @ 7:48am

    Lindows is a lame name anyways. They should just drop the name and come up with something better.

    Some suggestions: Surpass, ItWorks, Better, Washer. Mine are also lame but at least they're better than Lindows.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  

    No Subject Given

    identicon
    Besotted, Dec 23rd, 2001 @ 10:45pm

    How well does "Lindows" work? No one has
    talked about that little detail. Also...
    How about basing the name on a type of
    fortified wine, to give the idea of "stronger
    than wine":
    cognac, sherry, port, madeira, malaga,...?

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  

    Re: They may have a case

    identicon
    Techfusion, Jan 31st, 2004 @ 4:02pm

    Actually, the names "micro" and "soft" and "window" (singular, not "windowS") are copyrighted, so Microsoft isn't even using a copyrighted word with "windows". This appears to be another attempt by MS to squash their competitors. I've used Linux for years along with WINE (WINE doesn't even work that well) and I find Linux to be a much better OS, as it's "parent" UNIX has always been.

    Lindows is using the Debian distribution and KDE, both of which have been around for a long time. I recently started using Lindows and it's very easy to install and use. They've left WINE out for now as it doesn't work that well.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


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