Microsoft sues Linux start-up over name

logic1

The Redmond, Wash.-based software giant filed a motion with the U.S. Court for the Western District of Washington against Lindows, which is developing a version of the Linux operating system that will run popular applications written for Microsoft's Windows OS.

Microsoft contends the company, which plans to formally release its product next year, purposely is trying to confuse Lindows with Windows. The suit asks the court to order the start-up to stop using the Lindows name and also seeks unspecified monetary damages.

Article from CNet.

.logic.

Baz_

I think Microsoft are a bit OTT here. I hate the way MS do this shiit, try to solidify their monopoly, but then again they are a commercial company and thats what a lot of commercial companies try to do.

However if they honestly believe that the average punter is stupid enough to mistake lindows for windows, then they had better cop on. For me it doesn't even sound similar, mongness.

Another point raised in that article was about open source being a blight blah blah... That also is stupid. If you have freeware open source thats ****, and fully commercial products that are excellent, people will obviously want the fully commercial product, the only real threat to MS is piracy, its certainly not open source, unless youre a programmer there is no real benefit to the program being open source, in which case the only way to get a good product is to pay for it.

MS are a pack of mongs.

logic1

Actually I don't even know if Lindows is a real product!
But it really does provide a good example of the behaviour which Microsoft do initiate if they perceive any threat to their corporate image or product base.

.logic.

GoneShootin

I think they knew it would happen, Lindows that is, its an easy way to create publicity if the rival will fire it up for you !

good luck to them anyway

Typedef

Does anyone else find it funny that M$ can berate open source software, yet still rob the BSD tcp/ip stack?

Hobbes

What they should of done is TM the name Lindows beforehand and then they could go tell MS to go screw themselves.

and fully commercial products that are excellent, people will obviously want the fully commercial product, the only real threat to MS is piracy, its certainly not open source, unless youre a programmer there is no real benefit to the program being open source, in which case the only way to get a good product is to pay for it.

I'm afraid I'm going to have to disagree with you Baz. There are tons of things open source which you don't need to be a programmer to use. People think open source = download the source code and compile yourself. Which you can do, but most places post binaries too.

Also a number of companies are looking into Open source to save money over buying the commercial versions. Amazon is just one I can think off the top of my head.

moist

Originally posted by Typedef
Does anyone else find it funny that M$ can berate open source software, yet still rob the BSD tcp/ip stack?

I've seen a number of articles recently where they say that they just have a problem
with the GPL as against open source itself.
And I aggree with them on a number of points.

Anyway they didn't _ROB_ the tcp/ip stack, its licence allows (encourages even) you
to take it and use it.

seamus

I just read the article and was about to post it, but then saw it was already here -

Personally, I've had linux installed for all of 5 days, and right now, if I could abandon windows, I would, except that plenty of apps I have on Windoze I need, and can't get copies of for Linux (no net connection ). If this became available, I would ditch windows straight away. MS know that there of plenty of us like this (half their own OS programmers/developers prolly use unix/linux ffs) and so are basically **** scared. They haven't a leg to stand on.

Trojan

Originally posted by moist
I've seen a number of articles recently where they say that they just have a problem
with the GPL as against open source itself.
And I aggree with them on a number of points.

Nah, that's rubbish - they said that open source was dangerous and likened it to communism. They do have a problem with OSS itself.
[ammunition: http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/1/12266.html ]

btw *every* commercial software company has a problem with the GPL in that they are very wary of using it for fear that they may have to release their own source.

Originally posted by moist

Anyway they didn't _ROB_ the tcp/ip stack, its licence allows (encourages even) you
to take it and use it.

Yes, so MS preach one thing and practise another

A bit like them running Apache on microslop.com, but first recompiling it so it returns the HTTP identification of IIS (also a true story, look up apache websites, I cant be bothered).

So M$ are evil and also incompetant muppets (luckily, otherwise we'd be in more serious sh!t), who cares, we all know already.

Wait til M$ Pass-your-visa-details-around-port becomes more ubiquitous

Al.

[edit: ammo link damage limitation (to shut up proM$ muppets like DeBore before he starts) ]

dahamsta

A bit like them running Apache on microslop.com, but first recompiling it so it returns the HTTP identification of IIS (also a true story, look up apache websites, I cant be bothered).

And Hotmail on BSD. Can't (be arsed) provide the evidence right now, but last I heard, the frontend was running IIS, but the backend was still running on BSD.

Seamus, if you have a few quid to spare, get http://www.vmware.com/ and run your Windows apps in a virtual machine. I haven't used it since v2, but it was pretty cool then. Unfortunately though, it doesn't run on RHL7.2 yet, and they have no timeframe for a release. Bit silly really, when RHL is the most widespread Linux distro, and the .2 released are recognised as the most stable...

adam