MS trains legal guns at Lindows
Trademark infringement claims
Posted in Business, 3rd January 2002 00:15 GMT
Tune into our application security webcast, click here
Microsoft has unleashed its lawyers against Lindows -because the name of the titchy software firm is too similar to Windows.
Customers could "mistakenly conclude that the Lindows product was exclusively or jointly developed by, licensed or certified by, or otherwise sponsored or approved by Microsoft," the company says in a suit alleging trademark infringement.
Lindows is the developer of LindowsOS, a Linux distro which also runs Windows apps. The app is still at the vapourware stage (see this story: Why Newsforge hasn't written about Lindows).
Microsoft wants to settle out of court i.e. for Lindows to change its name. But unlike most small software start-ups, Lindows has a rich backer.
Step forward MP3.com founder Michael Robertson, a man with a talent for soundbites: "All I know is that I'm being sued for unfair business practices by Microsoft. Hello pot? It's kettle on line two," he told Reuters.
The chances of customer confusion over Lindows and Windows are "zero per cent," he says. But it will be awfully expensive attempting to prove this. ®
See what The Register's experts have to say on application security


The future of SaaS and IT infrastructure management
Solving on-premise email challenges with on-demand services
The business case for application security
Reducing messaging and web security costs with managed services

Win a Samsung C6625!
Is your cameraphone an oxymoron?
Reg Mobile and Wireless newsletter is go! go! go!
Sign up, sign up for The Register IT security newsletter