Slashdot Mirror
Lindows Takes a Hit in the Netherlands
diersing writes "The Register has the latest on it. Resellers of the Linux distribution Lindows in the Netherlands were ordered today to stop selling the product. Amsterdam judge Rullmann agreed with Microsoft that in many ways Lindows is 'profiting from the success of Windows' by infringing on Microsoft's trademarks." This seems to be a rather common occurrence lately.
"Microsoft is using lawsuits as a battering ram to smash Linux, to prevent it from reaching retail stores".
I've never heard of any other companies trying this.
Lots of people will get to hear 'Lindows' as a result of MS legal action who wouldn't have normally.
As they say, all publicity is good publicity.
I wonder what Michael's next trick will be.
The whole point of the judgement is that the judge thinks that Microsoft has proven that Lindows chose the name Lindows because of its relation to Windows. And, since Windows is a registered trademark in the Netherlands, this is obviously an infringement. Remember, Windows in Dutch has no other meaning as it does in English; it is not a common word.
Nobody can really claim that they chose Lindows for any other reason than the similarity to Windows. They could have chosen a lot of other cool names as Xandros and others have done. They didn't and they made the choice realizing that they might get into legal trouble for doing so.
Not that I'm that patriotic or anything, but how on earth can a Dutch judge restrict my ability (I'm Belgian citizen) to visit a particular website (even if it is www.lindows.com) by obliging the owner to deny me access?
There are no court agreements between the Benelux countries in my opinion, at least a Belgian judge should rule in the same way as the Dutch one to make this ligitimate. This would be different if this ruling was made in the EU (European Union) court in Strassbourg, whose rulings supersede Belgian ones.
StarTrek.org Free Webmail
how on earth can a Dutch judge restrict my ability (I'm Belgian citizen) to visit a particular website
From a fellow Belgian (not a lawyer though): trademarks are common in all three Benelux countries. This means that any judgment in one country might affect the other two.
WWTTD?
Is it really this bad that you think we all walk around on wooden shoes and live in windmills? We haven't been doing that since the 90s !!
-- The Internet is a too slow way of doing things, you'd never do without it.
If they aren't trying to mimic MS Windows then why take a name so remarkably close to it? It is so totally obvious. Lindows is trying to ride on Ms's coat tails. The product may be totally different, but that isn't the point. Its just like that Panaphonics VCR, or that Magnetbox TV...
Why not try "Linux ADVANCE OS" or something. Hell, Linux itself is becoming a buzzword now....
Kiss my shiny metal ass