History is repeating itself. When Microsoft launched Internet Explorer, it quickly emerged it didn't actually own the name, and the Beast of Redmond was forced to make hasty financial reparations to ensure it could continue using the name. Now, less than a week after announcing that Windows NT 5.0 will be released as Windows 2000, it has emerged that that name has already been taken. Whoops. The owner, according to G2 News, if one Robert Kerstein, erstwhile CFO of McCaw Cellular. Kerstein trade-marked the name two and half years ago for his Encyberpedia web site. So far, Microsoft has yet to respond to the news. As for Kerstein, who claims he has never been contacted by Microsoft regarding his ownership of the Windows 2000 trademark, it's not hard to imagine the dollar signs ringing up like an old-style cash register in his eyes. ® Click for more stories Click for story index