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Microsoft and Lindows Settle Trademark Case
Microsoft and Lindows have announced a settlement in all the trademark
infringement cases between the two companies. The press
release reports that the settlement terms are confidential, however
News.com reports
that Microsoft will pay Lindows a $20 million settlement fee. "In
exchange for the payment, Lindows--which recently renamed most of its
products "Linspire" to work around European trademark suits--will give up
the Lindows name and assign related Web domains to Microsoft, according to
the registration statement Lindows filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission."
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Very disappointing Posted Jul 19, 2004 20:26 UTC (Mon) by ccyoung (subscriber, #16340) [Link] MS continues to buy their way out of breaking the law.I was really hoping that Robison(sp?), for all his faults, was the man with enough courages and determination to go against Microsoft. Now, instead of admiring his integrity, I'm left wondering if this were merely a shakedown. A successful lawsuit against Windows TM would have been worth far more than $20M. What else was involved?
Very disappointing Posted Jul 19, 2004 21:55 UTC (Mon) by LogicG8 (guest, #11076) [Link] I'm disappointed as well. MSFT chose a common term to use as theirOS trademark and they deserve no protection for it. I think it would have been rather humorous to watch MS scramble to change the names of their product lines. OTOH I'm not really disappointed with Lin{dows,spire} they lost the I've never really been impressed with Lindows technically, morally
Very disappointing Posted Jul 19, 2004 22:40 UTC (Mon) by iabervon (subscriber, #722) [Link] Microsoft wasn't breaking the law, and they weren't accused of doing so. Microsoft accused Lindows of breaking the law, and had gotten some localized rulings that made Lindows need a new name. At that point, it looks quite bad for Microsoft's position to buy their way out of the case; if they had a strong position, they could just win the suit, get damages, and demonstrate actually having the rights to the name. So Microsoft retains the "Windows" trademark, but we all know they couldn't keep it in court. For that matter, this settlement makes it more likely that a small project with a Windows-like name will find legal representation willing to work for a piece of a settlement or the chance of Microsoft having to pay the defendant's legal fees. I bet wxWidgets (formerly wxWindows) would have found someone to go through the legal system for them if it were clear there was $20M to be had.
Microsoft and Lindows Settle Trademark Case Posted Jul 19, 2004 21:10 UTC (Mon) by andrel (guest, #5166) [Link] The 10 page "confidential" SEC filing is already online with some of the details. The details on the Windows Media part of the agreement are in an attached exhibit which doesn't yet seem to be online.
Disappointed Posted Jul 20, 2004 9:17 UTC (Tue) by WZot (guest, #13623) [Link] First of all I am disappointed in Linspire for not taking this further; but I guess it is a money related thing...But what I am most disappointed in is the amount of cash connected to the settlement. $20M is NOTHING for Microsoft, and I am sure Linspire could have got a whole lot more if they just continued a little bit more. The $20M is ^just enough for covering theyre legal expenses^ in this case.
Disappointed Posted Jul 20, 2004 10:21 UTC (Tue) by jeroen (subscriber, #12372) [Link] How would Linspire get more if they continued? They would get less. Because if they win in the US, they get nothing. Microsoft accuses Linspire of breaking the law, the only thing they get if they win is a piece of paper saying that they aren't breaking the law.You say it is nothing for Microsoft, but it is something for Linspire. Linspire can spend its money in a better way than paying lawyers IMHO.
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