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By David Becker
Posted on ZDNet News: Jan 30, 2004 7:32:00 PM

Linux seller Lindows has lost the first of several trademark challenges by Microsoft.

The company, which sells a version of the Linux operating system intended to mimic Microsoft's Windows, acknowledged Friday that a Dutch judge had ruled against the company in a Microsoft case claiming the Lindows name infringes on Microsoft's Windows trademark.

A judge in Amsterdam District Court issued a preliminary injunction barring the company from selling or advertising any products under the Lindows name in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. Courts in Finland and Sweden have issued similar injunctions.

Microsoft has filed similar trademark claims against Lindows in the United States, but the judge there has repeatedly denied Microsoft's requests for an injunction against


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Lindows, which claims "windows" is a generic computing term and therefore ineligible for trademark status. That case is scheduled to go to trial March 1 in U.S. District Court in Seattle.

Lindows CEO Michael Robertson has said Microsoft should wait for a decision in the U.S. case before expanding the trademark dispute to other areas. "They were unsuccessful in the U.S. with this tactic, so now they're resorting to picking countries where they will find a sympathetic court," he said in a statement.

The trademark case hasn't been the only legal animus between Microsoft and Lindows. A California judge recently ruled in Microsoft's favor in a case concerning a Lindows-backed site that offered to process claims online for California consumers eligible for proceeds from the settlement of a class-action antitrust suit against Microsoft in the state. The judge administering the case agreed with Microsoft that claims processed through the Lindows site did not meet the terms of the settlement.

  • Talkback
  • Most Recent of 137 Talkback(s)
Actually, the trade name is Microsoft.
The use of windows and Xwindows predates MS use of the word. Read up on Unix and CDE for verification.... (Read the rest)
Posted by: richdave Posted on: 04/16/04 You are currently: Logged In | Log out
Interesting Bobby Sskcat   | 01/30/04
Free publicity IT_User   | 01/30/04
should m$ trademark "virus"? stephen732@...   | 01/30/04
So says you... No_Ax_to_Grind   | 01/30/04
No, so says a U.S. judge IT_User   | 01/30/04
Rants Chris Moller   | 01/30/04
Frequently? Immanuel Tranz-Mischen   | 01/31/04
and even better still nograin   | 01/30/04
Right, just like.... rock06r   | 01/30/04
Question about Xerox IT_User   | 01/30/04
Darpa rock06r   | 01/30/04
No, I'm not in charge of black projects IT_User   | 01/30/04
Ig No Rant. Immanuel Tranz-Mischen   | 01/31/04
I am pretty sure... rock06r   | 02/01/04
RE: I am pretty sure... JakAttak   | 02/02/04
Xerox, Apple, and MS Richard Flude   | 01/31/04
superb OS years ahead of their rivals.??? richdave   | 04/16/04
Apple control BruceWheelock@...   | 01/30/04
I think CSC's Threads is a much better precedent IT_User   | 01/30/04
No joy IT_User   | 01/30/04
Two flaws in your argument. Immanuel Tranz-Mischen   | 01/31/04
both appropriate and legal. richdave   | 04/16/04
I still don't see Arrg   | 01/30/04
It doesn't IT_User   | 01/30/04
Come on vferrara   | 01/30/04
Not that clear to me IT_User   | 01/30/04
Not sure, but... vferrara   | 01/30/04
Interesting how you termed it IT_User   | 01/30/04
Remember the initial hype? vferrara   | 01/30/04
I remember that image IT_User   | 01/30/04
Changing the first letter. Immanuel Tranz-Mischen   | 01/31/04
It would be both legal and proper for richdave   | 04/16/04
Seems to me... Jose Jimenez   | 01/30/04
windows prrawlins   | 01/30/04
Exactly right. No_Ax_to_Grind   | 01/30/04
Even if Lindows loses, they win vferrara   | 01/30/04
If MS loses.. d_jedi   | 01/30/04
how about prrawlins   | 01/30/04
Look out AppleWin! IT_User   | 01/30/04
Boy, you sure do have it in for Linux, don't you? emartin_z   | 02/02/04
I Didn't realize that.. Arrg   | 01/30/04
opps precedent not president Arrg   | 01/30/04
Re: I Didn't realize that. PottHead   | 01/30/04
Not quite vferrara   | 01/30/04
Not Windows, MS Windows. neil ubich   | 01/30/04
Hmmm... John E Wahd   | 01/30/04
Once again, not quite. vferrara   | 01/30/04
To flip it though IT_User   | 01/30/04
Proportionate response rapson   | 01/30/04
Less an overreaction, to be sure IT_User   | 01/30/04
However... el1jones   | 01/30/04
Maybe you're right ... maybe not! vferrara   | 01/30/04
Good point about confusion IT_User   | 01/30/04
It could.. d_jedi   | 01/30/04
A reasoned response IT_User   | 01/30/04
Now why would you be disappointed to own the richdave   | 04/16/04
the word windows prrawlins   | 01/30/04
Que? NemesisNL   | 01/30/04
True, but... neil ubich   | 01/30/04
Toys 'R Us... Confused by religion   | 01/30/04
Except this one IT_User   | 01/30/04
Trademarked name still up for debate jasonp@...   | 01/30/04
You're right, almost IT_User   | 01/30/04
Windows in the dictionary Lindows isant (nt) nite_w0lf   | 01/30/04
wrong, see my message below hipparchus   | 01/30/04
Same song, second verse aduana@...   | 01/30/04
You don't understand the issue rock06r   | 01/30/04
generic terms Joe Blow_z   | 01/30/04
286 d_jedi   | 01/30/04
Mr. Nonsense rock06r   | 01/30/04
Nonsense doubled davidpz@...   | 01/31/04
learn to read rock06r   | 01/31/04
Civiliy isn't your long suit... IT_User   | 01/31/04
There wasn't a public distribution version TechDiva_z   | 01/31/04
TechDiva - sure of your names? IT_User   | 02/01/04
understand prrawlins   | 01/30/04
Even they were not first rock06r   | 01/30/04
Try again zd-spam   | 01/30/04
OK expert rock06r   | 01/30/04
Generic term IN THE INDUSTRY IT_User   | 01/30/04
Generic term? davidpz@...   | 01/31/04
Absolutely! IT_User   | 01/31/04
Actually, the trade name is Microsoft. richdave   | 04/16/04
Son Micro, RedHap Linux, POracle Corp, AOHell FilledOut   | 01/30/04
Glad you mentioned AOL. Immanuel Tranz-Mischen   | 01/31/04
You're welcome FilledOut   | 02/02/04
Off topic, but Update victim   | 01/30/04
Lindows is a name (a place name) hipparchus   | 01/30/04
Close, but what does this have to do with anything vferrara   | 01/30/04
try an encyclopaedia that's where I found it hipparchus   | 01/30/04
Windows trademark jasonp@...   | 01/30/04
Nope, only in the same industry IT_User   | 01/30/04
So what's the industry? jasonp@...   | 01/30/04
hehehe prrawlins   | 01/30/04
Not up to legislature, thankfully IT_User   | 01/30/04
I should have said "Lindow man" + surname Lindow hipparchus   | 01/30/04
But.. d_jedi   | 01/30/04
and neil ubich   | 01/30/04
I had enough of those confusion ... GraysonPeddie   | 01/30/04
Kleenex... wploger   | 01/30/04
Uhh, it's a DUTCH judge Spoon Jabber   | 01/31/04
Uhh, it's also an AMERICAN case wploger   | 02/02/04
LINDOWS by accident prrawlins   | 01/30/04
Protection from confusion Domb2   | 02/02/04
You must be easily confused. jkozura_z   | 02/02/04
Judge, Jury, Executioner d_jedi   | 01/30/04
Interesting IT_User   | 01/30/04
I assume.. d_jedi   | 02/01/04
There is an AppleWin IT_User   | 01/30/04
big difference.. d_jedi   | 02/01/04
Windows actually an infringement, proof here. Ironiclife   | 01/30/04
Lindows used a "Lin" IT_User   | 01/30/04
What is your source? rock06r   | 01/30/04
Check a litle deeper IT_User   | 01/30/04
Well that just worms my apple FilledOut   | 01/31/04
maybe they could JWatson77   | 01/30/04
Do you honestly believe that's a good thing? rock06r   | 02/01/04
you missed the point JWatson77   | 02/01/04
i would like to here the end results of this JWatson77   | 01/30/04
Wow, Microsoft continues to generate bad publicity. DonnieBoy   | 01/31/04
Copyright law.. d_jedi   | 02/01/04
The point is valid IT_User   | 02/02/04
5 countries is not all of europe and.... hipparchus   | 02/01/04
You should always file everywhere. rock06r   | 02/01/04
This might be part of the strategy IT_User   | 02/02/04
Easy solution: use a name that doesn't leach of Windows Trademark marksashton   | 01/31/04
Easier solution: Spoon Jabber   | 01/31/04
hmm.. d_jedi   | 02/01/04
What trademark are you referring to? IT_User   | 01/31/04
Exactly nite_w0lf   | 01/31/04
But it does make it legitimate rock06r   | 02/01/04
Landmark Case Immanuel Tranz-Mischen   | 02/01/04
LINDOWS = LOSERS = MORONS usapride   | 02/01/04
Troll bait jellyclock   | 02/02/04
That's just wrong and mean FilledOut   | 02/02/04
Do any of you actually run businesses? Domb2   | 02/02/04
RE: Do any of you actually run businesses? pshempel   | 02/02/04

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