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LindowsOS.com Email Lists Collected For MS Suit
Over at the LindowsOS website is a message from company chief Michael Robertson, who advises readers that, in the course of discovery for the ongoing lawsuit instigated by Microsoft against Lindows.com, the company was "compelled to disclose your email address to Microsoft." The email addresses aren't just those who have submitted product names with a connection to "Windows", but rather "everyone who had
submitted their address asking to be signed up for the Lindows.com mailing
list since we turned on the website," according to email from Robertson. He adds: "The information which Microsoft
received in the list was name, email address and physical address. It was
not just people that posted to our forum, but basically every address for
every person that we had collected." (Note: If you'd like to contribute to the list of "Windows" products, it would be helpful to include more than just a product name photocopy -- e.g. a company name, URL, or photocopied manual.).Update by HeUnique: And here is Michael Robertson comment.
Didn't have a choice? I thought the point of lindows was to "bring choice to your computer". I guess they aren't living up to their own slogan
"Here's how you can help. We are composing a list of the many hundreds of products named "Windows Something" or "Something Windows" or even variations on the word windows, which are not from Microsoft. We know there are many, many products that fit this characterization and we could use your assistance to help us create this list. We are looking for hardware products, software products, products for any operating system and even operating systems themselves"
Hardware, well only thing I can think of is that pane of glass in my wall... umm, unless he's talking about boxes of hardware that say "Designed for Microsoft Windows."
Software. Wow. Hmm... how about anything named "XXXXX for Windows".
My favorite part is the "even operating systems themselves." That's funny. Cause the only OS that I know of that has 'Windows' in its name is...well... Windows!
This guy hasn't a leg to stand on. I think he likes getting himself into trouble and then making up bullshit excuses for why his interpretation of the law is right. I'm certainly not for the RIAA (H.R. can lick my nards), but it's kind of like him explaining why the MP3s on my.mp3.com were..uh.. 'legal.' By his interpretation anyway.
Face it, this guy knows he did wrong. Just think what would have happened if Microsoft named their Internet browser Metscape Mavigator.... But it begins with M (for Microsoft)! It's different!
Oh, and for the curious, here is their privacy policy:
"Contact Information: Some areas of the Site request or require contact and other information. During the registration process, we collect information such as your name, mailing address, and e-mail address. Your contact information may be used to get in touch with you when necessary with respect to transactions conducted through the Site or for other internal purposes. We do not share your contact information with any third party without your consent, except to a court or governmental agency if permitted by law, as authorized by a court of competent jurisdiction or to the limited extent described below under "Certain Third Party Transactions". "
Looks like that just flew out the door... er, window.
The sole fact that you use AOL should make it illegal for you to use stupid, asinine names like MicroSquish and M$... You're probably one of those people that boots into Linux to use pico to edit text files, but boots back to Win98 so "I can use AOL!!" Yeah this may be flamebait, but the parent post is bullshit. Pure bullshit.
Copyright? You mean trademark? There is a.. MOTHERFUCKING huge difference between the two just so you know.
--
WHO ATE MY BREAKFAST PANTS?
Thats why guntella will survive where napster and all the others will fail.
Also, Microsoft is alleging that anytime someone uses the word "windows" that means Microsoft. Take a trip to your local computer shop and see for yourself how many products are called "Windows something" on the store shelf that AREN'T endorsed by Microsoft in any way and yet aren't sued.
Hey Michael...
Why don't YOU give a couple of examples if they're so prevalent? Because I've just checked, and I've not seen ANY.
Simon
Coming soon - pyrogyra
Win isn't a similar word to Windows.
And all the other ones are either open source projects, or shareware you can download from TuCows.
I direct your eyes to this paragraph:
Take a trip to your local computer shop and see for yourself how many products are called "Windows something" on the store shelf that AREN'T endorsed by Microsoft in any way and yet aren't sued
Of course, just because I direct them, doesn't mean you'll comprehend, so here goes:
Which of the items on their list are available in stores for purchase?
Now stop being an ass.
Coming soon - pyrogyra