Microsoft has made peace with Michael Robertson's Linspire Linux company, paying $20m to settle all outstanding trademark issues surrounding the Lin---s (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/03/11/ms_legal_case_dash/) distribution. Linspire promises never to use the Lin---ws word ever again in its branding. Linspire also appears to have eked out another compromise from Redmond, with a four-year, royalty-free license to certain Windows media components. The deal smooths the way for a stateside IPO for Linspire.

Linspire had won several court victories over the Lin---s distribution, which Microsoft claimed devalued its global Windows™ trademark. Microsoft objected to Robertson's suggested alternative name Lindash because "when confronted with 'Lin---s', [customers] will be reminded of 'Lindows'".

For mp3.com founder Robertson, chutzpah has paid off handsomely.

"All I know is that I'm being sued for unfair business practices by Microsoft. Hello pot? It's kettle on line two," he said when Microsoft first opened fire (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/01/03/ms_trains_legal_guns/) two and half years ago.

The long-running saga has catapulted Lin---s into prominence over rivals such as Xandros and Lycoris, and given Microsoft lawyers some cause to worry whether Windows™ isn't really simply a generic term for a window--g system. More than one judge certainly thought so. ®

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