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Lindows fights back against Microsoft

By Ian Fried, CNet, 18 February, 2002 11:51

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Software, Microsoft, Linux, Windows, Trademark, Lindows, Operating system

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Lindows, a start-up developing software that would let many Windows programs run on Linux computers, has released legal papers designed to head off Microsoft's efforts to thwart the product. In December, Microsoft asked a federal judge to bar the company from using the Lindows name, which it claimed could confuse consumers. The suit set back Lindows' software release schedule but also has given the start-up publicity as the latest chapter in the long-running competition between Microsoft and Linux fans. The company had hoped to release a preview version in December, but said the legal action delayed the software, which eventually arrived in February. And the suit has given Lindows new ambitions. "There's a strong chance that Microsoft may lose its trademark on Windows," said vice president of Marketing John Bromhead. He also said the company has some back-up names prepared in case it loses. In the latest court papers Lindows said it conducted a survey of 750 of its registered users and found that not one confused Microsoft with the start-up. "Not a single respondent believed that Microsoft 'makes, sponsors or licenses Lindows OS' or 'owns or operates Lindows.com,'" the company said in the filing. Further, Lindows argues that Windows is itself a generic term for a feature of an operating system, bolstering its case by drawing on Microsoft's own testimony when the software giant defended itself against Apple Computer in a 1988 suit. "No matter how much money a company spends, they should not be allowed to prevent others from using a descriptive term widely used in the industry, especially if that company has been found guilty of illegal tactics to build and maintain its monopoly," said Michael Robertson, chief executive of Lindows. "This would be like a furniture company selling a 'Super Chair,' driving other furniture companies out of business illegally, and then trying to gain exclusive rights to the word 'chair' and block all competitors from using it," Robertson said. A Microsoft representative was not immediately available for comment. Lindows employs software from the Wine project, an open-source effort to mimic in Linux the commands that Windows programs use. Lindows was launched last year by Robertson, former chief executive of digital music site MP3.com. The company said it has released a "sneak preview" of LindowsOS to a select group of testers and plans to release the full version 1.0 later this year for US$99. Lindows said the next step in the lawsuit is a court hearing 27 February in which the judge will hear oral arguments from both sides. News.com's Stephen Shankland contributed to this report.
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