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Good point about confusion
Because it's a bit hard to see how somebody that wanted "Windows" would wind up with "Lindows." I am envisioning two settings.

One, where the buyer picks up a shrinkwrap to install on his computer. I'm assuming the Lindows box isn't marked and colored as to resemble the ubiquitous Windows logo, etc. This user has to have some degree of sophistication even to consider an OS install and in my opinion would be unlikely to pick up the wrong box. Doesn't look like the place where the buyer would go wrong.

So how about the person buying a complete system, the less sophisticated buyer. I am convinced that this person doesn't go to Best Buy to purchase a "Windows" computer - you just don't see these advertised. The brand names in the flyers are IBM, Gateway, Dell, Hewlett Packard, Toshiba. I'm convinced these are the brands the salespeople sell and the buyers buy. You might see "Intel inside" as a selling point, but notice how often you see "Windows" displayed as a selling point - it is not. If I offered a Hewlet Packard, there is a clear intent to mislead. But as for the name of the OS installed (except for the case of Apple, where the computer and OS have the same name), this is not the "household name" that is going to sell to the public.

My point - the name Lindows isn't going to cause a purchaser to end up with a different product than they think they're buying.
Posted by: IT_User   Posted on: 01/30/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Interesting  Bobby Sskcat | 01/30/04
Free publicity  IT_User | 01/30/04
should m$ trademark "virus"?  stephen732@... | 01/30/04
So says you...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 01/30/04
No, so says a U.S. judge  IT_User | 01/30/04
Rants  Chris Moller | 01/30/04
Frequently?  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 01/31/04
and even better still  nograin | 01/30/04
Right, just like....  rock06r | 01/30/04
Question about Xerox  IT_User | 01/30/04
Darpa  rock06r | 01/30/04
No, I'm not in charge of black projects  IT_User | 01/30/04
Ig No Rant.  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 01/31/04
I am pretty sure...  rock06r | 02/01/04
RE: I am pretty sure...  JakAttak | 02/02/04
Xerox, Apple, and MS  Richard Flude | 01/31/04
superb OS years ahead of their rivals.???  richdave | 04/16/04
Apple control  BruceWheelock@... | 01/30/04
I think CSC's Threads is a much better precedent  IT_User | 01/30/04
No joy  IT_User | 01/30/04
Two flaws in your argument.  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 01/31/04
both appropriate and legal.  richdave | 04/16/04
I still don't see  Arrg | 01/30/04
It doesn't  IT_User | 01/30/04
Come on  vferrara | 01/30/04
Not that clear to me  IT_User | 01/30/04
Not sure, but...  vferrara | 01/30/04
Interesting how you termed it  IT_User | 01/30/04
Remember the initial hype?  vferrara | 01/30/04
I remember that image  IT_User | 01/30/04
Changing the first letter.  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 01/31/04
It would be both legal and proper for  richdave | 04/16/04
Seems to me...  Jose Jimenez | 01/30/04
windows  prrawlins | 01/30/04
Exactly right.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 01/30/04
Even if Lindows loses, they win  vferrara | 01/30/04
If MS loses..  d_jedi | 01/30/04
how about  prrawlins | 01/30/04
Look out AppleWin!  IT_User | 01/30/04
Boy, you sure do have it in for Linux, don't you?  emartin_z | 02/02/04
I Didn't realize that..  Arrg | 01/30/04
opps precedent not president  Arrg | 01/30/04
Re: I Didn't realize that.  PottHead | 01/30/04
Not quite  vferrara | 01/30/04
Not Windows, MS Windows.  neil ubich | 01/30/04
Hmmm...  James T. Kirk | 01/30/04
Once again, not quite.  vferrara | 01/30/04
To flip it though  IT_User | 01/30/04
Proportionate response  rapson | 01/30/04
Less an overreaction, to be sure  IT_User | 01/30/04
However...  el1jones | 01/30/04
Maybe you're right ... maybe not!  vferrara | 01/30/04
Good point about confusion  IT_User | 01/30/04
It could..  d_jedi | 01/30/04
A reasoned response  IT_User | 01/30/04
Now why would you be disappointed to own the  richdave | 04/16/04
the word windows  prrawlins | 01/30/04
Que?  NemesisNL | 01/30/04
True, but...  neil ubich | 01/30/04
Toys 'R Us...  Confused by religion | 01/30/04
Except this one  IT_User | 01/30/04
Trademarked name still up for debate  jasonp@... | 01/30/04
You're right, almost  IT_User | 01/30/04
Windows in the dictionary Lindows isant (nt)  nite_w0lf | 01/30/04
wrong, see my message below  hipparchus | 01/30/04
Same song, second verse  aduana@... | 01/30/04
You don't understand the issue  rock06r | 01/30/04
generic terms  Joe Blow_z | 01/30/04
286  d_jedi | 01/30/04
Mr. Nonsense  rock06r | 01/30/04
Nonsense doubled  davidpz@... | 01/31/04
learn to read  rock06r | 01/31/04
Civiliy isn't your long suit...  IT_User | 01/31/04
There wasn't a public distribution version  AbsolutelyNot | 01/31/04
TechDiva - sure of your names?  IT_User | 02/01/04
understand  prrawlins | 01/30/04
Even they were not first  rock06r | 01/30/04
Try again  zd-spam | 01/30/04
OK expert  rock06r | 01/30/04
Generic term IN THE INDUSTRY  IT_User | 01/30/04
Generic term?  davidpz@... | 01/31/04
Absolutely!  IT_User | 01/31/04
Actually, the trade name is Microsoft.  richdave | 04/16/04
Son Micro, RedHap Linux, POracle Corp, AOHell  FilledOut | 01/30/04
Glad you mentioned AOL.  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 01/31/04
You're welcome  FilledOut | 02/02/04
Off topic, but  Update victim | 01/30/04
Lindows is a name (a place name)  hipparchus | 01/30/04
Close, but what does this have to do with anything  vferrara | 01/30/04
try an encyclopaedia that's where I found it  hipparchus | 01/30/04
Windows trademark  jasonp@... | 01/30/04
Nope, only in the same industry  IT_User | 01/30/04
So what's the industry?  jasonp@... | 01/30/04
hehehe  prrawlins | 01/30/04
Not up to legislature, thankfully  IT_User | 01/30/04
I should have said "Lindow man" + surname Lindow  hipparchus | 01/30/04
But..  d_jedi | 01/30/04
and  neil ubich | 01/30/04
I had enough of those confusion ...  GraysonPeddie | 01/30/04
Kleenex...  wploger | 01/30/04
Uhh, it's a DUTCH judge  Spoon Jabber | 01/31/04
Uhh, it's also an AMERICAN case  wploger | 02/02/04
LINDOWS by accident  prrawlins | 01/30/04
Protection from confusion  Domb2 | 02/02/04
You must be easily confused.  jkozura_z | 02/02/04
Judge, Jury, Executioner  d_jedi | 01/30/04
Interesting  IT_User | 01/30/04
I assume..  d_jedi | 02/01/04
There is an AppleWin  IT_User | 01/30/04
big difference..  d_jedi | 02/01/04
Windows actually an infringement, proof here.  Ironiclife | 01/30/04
Lindows used a "Lin"  IT_User | 01/30/04
What is your source?  rock06r | 01/30/04
Check a litle deeper  IT_User | 01/30/04
Well that just worms my apple  FilledOut | 01/31/04
maybe they could  JWatson77 | 01/30/04
Do you honestly believe that's a good thing?  rock06r | 02/01/04
you missed the point  JWatson77 | 02/01/04
i would like to here the end results of this  JWatson77 | 01/30/04
Wow, Microsoft continues to generate bad publicity.  DonnieBoy | 01/31/04
Copyright law..  d_jedi | 02/01/04
The point is valid  IT_User | 02/02/04
5 countries is not all of europe and....  hipparchus | 02/01/04
You should always file everywhere.  rock06r | 02/01/04
This might be part of the strategy  IT_User | 02/02/04
Easy solution: use a name that doesn't leach of Windows Trademark  marksashton | 01/31/04
Easier solution:  Spoon Jabber | 01/31/04
hmm..  d_jedi | 02/01/04
What trademark are you referring to?  IT_User | 01/31/04
Exactly  nite_w0lf | 01/31/04
But it does make it legitimate  rock06r | 02/01/04
Landmark Case  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 02/01/04
LINDOWS = LOSERS = MORONS  usapride | 02/01/04
Troll bait  jellyclock | 02/02/04
That's just wrong and mean  FilledOut | 02/02/04
Do any of you actually run businesses?  Domb2 | 02/02/04
RE: Do any of you actually run businesses?  pshempel | 02/02/04

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