Microsoft Now Owns Lindows

from the well-that-settles-that dept

Well after a lengthy an often childish (on both sides) battle over the name Lindows, Microsoft has finally realized that every time they try to beat Michael Robertson in court, they're just giving him more free publicity. This is, of course, exactly what he wanted. So, to just settle the damn thing once and for all, Microsoft has bought out the Lindows name for $20 million. Of course, this works out great for Lindows... er... Linspire, as well. They basically get a $20 million investment with no dilution or strings attached -- plus a bit more publicity due to this deal.
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  1. identicon
    dorpus, 19 Jul 2004 @ 11:25am

    Open Source on its head

    So now we have Microsoft and IBM making professional versions of Linux? The energy, the vitality of the open source movement was used against itself -- corporations can make polished, proprietary versions.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. identicon
    alternatives, 19 Jul 2004 @ 11:55am

    Re: Open Source on its head

    So now we have Microsoft and IBM making professional versions of Linux?

    Please provide proof of this statement.

    corporations can make polished, proprietary versions.

    You say that like it is a bad thing.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  3. identicon
    Doofus, 19 Jul 2004 @ 1:41pm

    No Subject Given

    UUUH...read it again. Microsoft only bought the name "Lindows" so that no one, including Linspire, could use it.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  4. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 19 Jul 2004 @ 4:06pm

    Help!

    Please, can someone explain if that $20MM just stopped all legal processes that would have ultimately invalidated the Trademark on the generic term "Windows".



    link to this | view in thread ]

  5. identicon
    alternatives, 19 Jul 2004 @ 4:45pm

    Re: Help!

    Ask Dorpus, as she seems to know all.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  6. identicon
    Colin Klenner, 19 Jul 2004 @ 5:41pm

    And for everything else

    There is mastercard...

    LOL

    link to this | view in thread ]

  7. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 20 Jul 2004 @ 4:22am

    No Subject Given

    so who is going to startup linux distros called bindows, cindows, dindows, findows, ... there's 20m foreach apparently.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  8. identicon
    thecaptain, 20 Jul 2004 @ 5:10am

    apt...


    http://ars.userfriendly.org/cartoons/?id=20040720

    I love this...

    Basically Microsoft looks like an idiot, gives a linux company what is essentially free money.

    Works for me.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  9. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 20 Jul 2004 @ 7:09am

    Re: No Subject Given

    yaeh probably we will see other com[anies coming up with things like winbows, wincows and then geting away with $20m

    link to this | view in thread ]


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