Lindows.com, in an effort to combat Microsoft’s sway in the internation PC market, has organized a new initiative, ChoicePC. ChoicePC will fund efforts to diversify the OS market (more info on this available in the latest Michael’s Minutes). For $100, a user can get a lifetime membership to Lindows.com, including a free download of all future releases of LindowsOS, a lifetime membership to the Click N Run Warehouse, and more. Certainly a good deal with the price of commercial Linux rising. Update: Justification.
Lindows.com Launches ChoicePC Program
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Adam Scheinberg
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You can’t beat the price and at the same time put the middle finger up to Micro S!
“Microsoft has opened another European front in its war to get Lindows.com to change its name. The company has won a temporary restraining order which prohibits Lindows.com from use of the marks “Lindows”, “Lindows.com”, and “LindowsOS” in Sweden, pending a later decision on alleged trademark infringement. The judgment in effect halts Lindows OS sales in the country.” -> http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/51/34462.html
“How will Lindows.com spend the money collected?
All funds collected per country will be spent vigorously supporting and defending choice in that country. We will use available funds to stand up to Microsoft’s bullying tactics and preserve relationships with our International reseller partners.”
That seems pretty wide open to me. Will they use the money to pay attorney’s? Will they use the money for advertising Lindows in those country’s? If they use it for advertising Lindows, why is that better than someone buying Suse 9.0 and letting Suse use your money for advetising?
I can’t quite believe that Microsoft managed to trademark the word ‘windows’ in the first place. Firstly trademarking an everyday word, secondly trademarking a computing term that describes an aspect of the GUI (WIMP) to describe a brand of…. GUI. Astonishing and needing to be rubbed out.
Can you imagine if, for instance, Ford had managed to trademark “Automobile”. No other car company could use the word Automobile because Ford owned the trademark.
It is ludicrous and needs fixed.
Whether you choose to use Linux or not, this can only mean good news for everyone, except Microsoft
More competition in the marketplace means better quality software for all of us.
Actually, weirder things have been “trademarked”, such as a specific color, and even the opening theme from Für Elise.
Funds for holding the attack made to lindows resellers. And after the storm passes, it will be probabily used to promte lindows much more.More people using lindows or any sort of linux more sinergy is put on making software for this OS, it will slowly shift the balance.
If i read right, the lifetime membership let you get the last products for lindows, lifetime updates of your lindowsOS. It’s diferente thar having to pay for a new version each time…
PS: How may the ‘lindows’ name may mislead anyone about ‘windows’ from M$? They (Microsoft) think that we are all stupid for sure o_O
If the word where UindowsOS, well maybe, but lindows?
Funds for holding the attack made to lindows resellers. And after the storm passes, it will be probabily used to promte lindows much more.More people using lindows or any sort of linux more sinergy is put on making software for this OS, it will slowly shift the balance.
If i read right, the lifetime membership let you get the last products for lindows, lifetime updates of your lindowsOS. It’s diferente thar having to pay for a new version each time…
PS: How may the ‘lindows’ name may mislead anyone about ‘windows’ from M$? They (Microsoft) think that we are all stupid for sure o_O
If the word where UindowsOS, well maybe, but lindows?
I trust Mr. Roberts on this, I think they will make a good use of the money. But, to be honest, I don´t care what they do with my money. I think it is a bargain, a lifetime subscription for 100$!
I like Windows, but I am not with Microsoft on this. I think they should let Roberts use “Lindows” as a trademark. What´s the big deal?. I think “Windows” is too generic to be consider a trademark.
If I remeber right Lindows started out using the name Lindows because the company said that thier version of Linux would be able to run all MS Windows software just as well as MS Windows did.
I wonder what Linus would do if MS came out with a version of Windows that ran Linux apps, but didn’t have any open source code, and called it Winux? He does own the Linux trademark.
While Suse sounds like a great distro, $65 or there abouts for each upgrade (for the personal edition) is much more expensive. Ditto for Mandrake Club. Meanwhile Debian is *too* free, and won’t include any not-GPLd liscensed stuff other distros do.
This sounds like a winner to me.
With all the talk you hear about businesses creating a new business model I think Lindows is doing quite a job to get its product out there. While they may be playing off many geeks dislike of Microsoft it seems to only be a tool push Linux adoption and support by both businesses and home users. I don’t think it will earn them a million bucks but I think they have earned the respect of the community. Good luck to Lindows and thanks for your hard work.
“I wonder what Linus would do if MS came out with a version of Windows that ran Linux apps, but didn’t have any open source code, and called it Winux? He does own the Linux trademark.”
He would do nothing for 2 reasons:
1. He doesn’t seem like the type to care about piddly stuff.
2. There are other *ux’s out there, like AUX (from Apple) and HP-UX (from HP).
I don’t think “Lindows” would mislead anyone, but anyway, I think it’s a lame name for a “serious” distro. Sounds like someone is more worried about bugging MS than working on his own stuff. I have a feeling that if I approach a joe-user somewhere and ask him which Linux distro sounds more serious/reliable, from their names alone, he would pick names like SuSE, Fedora or Mandrake first.
I don’t think a colour has yet been trademarked. The german Telekom had almost succeded with trademarking magenta, but then got horribly ridiculed + smashed for that one — or can you hint me to what else it was..?
“I don’t think a colour has yet been trademarked. The german Telekom had almost succeded with trademarking magenta, but then got horribly ridiculed + smashed for that one — or can you hint me to what else it was..?”
There was a rumor once that Palmolive had tried to trademark the color green, or at least the particular shade of green used for their dishwashing liquid. Doesn’t look like it worked either…
)
One day either Smith will take over everything or Neo will… destroy him. The analogy of our times for the relentless pursuit of human domination that characterizes the largest corporations in the world.
Having Microsoft in the high tech world guarantees neverending warfare… takes whatever joy there could have been in this field and crushes it…
Trademarks 101 says don’t use common words. It seems Microsoft is too damn stupid to understand this. All they know how to do is attack, attack, attack, using their money to crush competition, never mind the law, never mind integrity, morality, or nobless oblige.
Hopefully the EU will bitchslap Microsoft back to Redmond.
I think it is more like trade marking the word “engine”. Anyway it is amazing!
Isn’t the offer only for 500 persons/country. Not very many IMHO.
And the value of the offer certainly depends on how long Lindows will be in business (and what they produce during this period). If they go broke in a year or so the lifetime subscription will become worthless. Likewise if they don’t make improvements that other customers have to pay for (new versions or upgrades).
Well, it was quite a good publicity stunt anyway.
And the value of the offer certainly depends on how long Lindows will be in business
That’s certainly true, but for 100 bucks you get at least one more release, Click N Run, and a t-shirt. Xandros costs 99 bucks and you get a boxed version of the current OS only. Sun costs 150 bucks and you get just JDS running Gnome 2.2. I’d say that as much as Lifetime makes it a good deal, even if it’s for only two years it’s a great price.
Microsoft is coming at us from all sides. They say its “to protect their trademark,” but the pit-bull methods they use (intimidation, threatening our resellers, etc.) show that it’s about squashing Linux.
Red Hat, SuSE, and others have done a great job on the servers. Linux has 25% of the server market, but they didn’t take that from Microsoft. That was won from Unix and others. The desktop, however, is MS’ domain. They own 95% market share there and don’t want to give that up. They make $1 BILLION in PROFITS every MONTH from Office and MS Windows. Because LindowsOS focuses exclusively on the desktop, they know that Lindows.com is doing a great deal to drive Linux to the desktop, and they want us dead.
Many would say we should just change our name, but if you back down the first time the school yard bully picks a fight, they’ll never leave you alone. We’re fed up with the monopolistic practices of MS and are not afraid to stand up and fight. They have gotten away with their tactics for far too long. We know we’re WAY out gunned, but we refuse to cower from this fight. This is about choice. No one is confused that LindowsOS is not from MS, and MS knows this. This is not about “confusion in the marketplace,” but simply MS wants Linux dead and they do not want to see it on reseller shelves.
Thanks for the support gang. As you can see, we’re not asking for a handout. We’re giving those who contribute a LIFETIME membership to all version of LindowsOS AND the CNR Warehouse (Click-N-Run). That’s real value to those who want to stand with us in this fight. If you’ll stand by us, we’ll stand by you…for life.
Kevin Carmony
President, Lindows.com
Yes, I agree that it is a competitive offer if you want an easy-to-use Linux distro. There is still the limit of 500, though.
And I think it will be hard to convince the general public to spend almost as much on Lindows as on Windows since you are getting less, rather than more, when you choose Lindows.
There *is* free software on Windows too: Openoffice.org, mozilla etc. I’m one of those who runs Windows with a bunch of free software. This is often forgotten in the debates. So there is very little incentive for anyone to change/choose a different OS. Sad but true…
I just bought mine (supporting Sweden). $100USD for a lifetime (no matter how short) of release and cnr is an excellent value.
What bothers me is this: the last time I purchased a copy of a distribution (at the same price), Redhat gave us the “good news”. I’ve got my fingers crossed for Lindows 😉
First that stupid name, the name “Lindows” just bugs me for many reasons namely that when they first came out they claimed to be compatable with most windows programs (hence the name “Lindows”) witch is an out right lie as it used a stock version of wine
Second is click-n-run, chargeing for free software that by itself isn’t that bad but the fact that useing apt-get can fubar the system, and that they dont offer support on programs you can get thrue click-n-run
Third is their constant exploitation of people who hate MS, things like this story ware they say their setting up a fund to support choice in software, all you have to do is buy a membership to lindows. You are not supporting choice in software when you buy lindows your just supporting lindows
I wish they’d update the version of WINE on CNR…
I’ve NEVER been able to get Office 97 to work on my Lindows box.
Open Office is nice, but it would be neat to use the already paid for Office 97 I own.
Your quite welcome,
I already have a current copy of Lindows, but felt this was a good opportunity to put my money where my mouth is where it comes to supporting freedom of choice. After all, theoretically, isn?t that what America is all about. I put down my hundred bucks, and picked up the phone to call my friends to do the same, of which several have. Carry on Lindows. You have a great desktop distro.
“I’ve NEVER been able to get Office 97 to work on my Lindows box.
Open Office is nice, but it would be neat to use the already paid for Office 97 I own.”
I think that you should post an e-mail to the support guys at Lindows and tell them to update WINE. If you got any complains, tell them and the chance is bigger that your wish come true!
Why don’t you sell your copy of MS Office 97 on Ebay and buy StarOffice 7.0 in CnR?
“So there is very little incentive for anyone to change/choose a different OS.”
Really? 4,000+ known Microsoft worms is not a reason?
I was really happy to read your reply here!
I don’t use Lindows myself but when i get a spare $100, i will take this offer, it’s a really good deal and it’s for a really good purpose!
Really? So if someone started making and selling high speed cars called Pherrari you wouln’t see anything wrong with that right?
First – yep, had trouble with 97 on Lindows, but once I got it on I went ahead and put my upgrade to Office 2000 which worked Perfectly. I needed it for work.
My biggest issue with all this is why Microsoft took this long to take this action. The timing really smells. The parties will be going to court in March to solve this in the US and Microsoft heads to Europe. If anything, it makes them look really bad. I personally find it insulting that Microsoft thinks that I am stupid enough not to realize that Lindows in not a Microsoft product. DUH!
They are acting like a schoolyard bully and it is really surprising that they have not figured out that the Global Public Opinion is almost more important that the quality of their product.
In a open letter to Microsoft, Roberts stated that Lindows was fully prepared in the event that they should lose the US case, to change their name and comply with the Courts.
With this being the case – Microsoft should just wait a couple months and be adults about this. I don’t think Microsoft has got the message from these anti Monopoly cases. They have to change the way they approach competition or they will lose. We are in a “Gobal” economy and although Microsofts software is dominant, people are starting to discover alternatives. Perhaps their legal actions in Europe are out of fear? I sure hope so.
“Really? So if someone started making and selling high speed cars called Pherrari you wouln’t see anything wrong with that right?”
It’s hardly the same thing. Ferrari is fine as a copywritable name. No problem with that, but those folks up in Redmond want to copyright the name of this thing I’ve had open up to let a breeze in. I can’t call it a window? What should I call it? A hole in the wall that opens and closes. I guess there’ll be no more calling it X Windows after this either, instead it’ll be X um thingies that show text and pictures and stuff.
What’s the diference? Have you any idea how many people in Italy have the Ferrari surname?
Okay, so you tell me. The cat stunk up the office, and I had to open these two sections of the wall on either side of the room to air the place out. What shall I call these things that open and close, that the Sun shines through and that can easily be broken by a baseball or really well packed snowball? I wouldn’t want to infringe on Microsoft, who obviously invented the window, so I need another name for them.
We’re talking about a common contruction add-on which, whether they know it or not, does predate Bill. Did Microsoft invent windows? No. Did the guy who built the first Ferrari which is unique from other cars and therefore actually something new have something worth patenting? Yes, yes he did. Not comparable.
You’re missing the point, you can use the word “windows” if you want and you can use the word “Ferrari” also, as long AS YOU DON’T SELL SIMILAR PRODUCTS that are in some way associated with that trademark (i.e. operating systems or cars or whatever). I can give more examples, selling computers under a brand called aple (with one “p” only), selling Land Lovers SUV’s (heard this one somewere), how about Noqia cell phones or how about MacBurgerKing etc
MS only claims trademark over the word windows when it relates to naming computer operating systems. Just as Ferrari only claims trademark over the name Ferrari when it relates to automobiles. I am sure that if my name was Ferrari, I owned a window manufacturing company ans called my windows “Ferrari Windows” neither of them would even notice.
Get a grip. Life is short.
>I am sure that if my name was Ferrari, I owned a window
>manufacturing company ans called my windows “Ferrari
>Windows” neither of them would even notice.
Generally, you’re correct. But not always. Very famous marks can get extraordinary protection because of fears of confusion. McDonald’s goes after McCompanies all the time, which usually have nothing to do with food. Usually they cave in, fearful of an army of McLawyers. “McDental” dental services fought back, for example, and lost. They’re not alone.
I’m not in the typical Lindows demographic, and have no desire to run it on my desktop (I run Debian with Gnome, as well as Windows). But still, I offered up my hundred bucks a few hours ago. Why?
Well, first off it’s a good deal. $100 covers all the PC’s in your household and notebooks too, forever (or until bankruptcy, whichever comes first). I’m sure I’ll find a use for it. Might be nice on my old PII laptop. It’s simply hard to go wrong with lifetime membership for a hundred bucks.
Plus I’m happy to throw a few bucks toward a company that’s willing to aggressively buck the Microsoft monopoly. According to some ignorant comments above, that means I’m being exploited or duped.
Nah, I’m just in favor of fair markets and open competition. Lindows is one small piece of that puzzle and I’m happy to support ’em.
The more of your posts I read, the more it seems like you are trying to pull on our emotions about Microsoft to garner support for your effort.
But in this case, your cause (the lindows name) has nothing to do about Microsoft trying to rule the world. Its about how “Lindows” sounds a whole lot like “Windows”. You can not deny that there might be confusion, ESPECIALLY from the market you are targeting.
I understand you’ve tried to build a reputation behind the Lindows name, but I think seperating yourself and not trying to act like a cheap rip-off (thats what the name comes off as) will help you prove your point that Microsoft isn’t the answer. Now, people will think: Well, if Lindows is just a cheap ripoff, and I can afford Windows, I’ll just get Windows.
I do support the product though. I hope you will be able to take a little marketshare away from Microsoft, but please remember not to turn into the dictator. Keep everything as free(speech) as possible.
You missed my point. Was the dentist’s name McDentist? The brothers who started McDonalds were. They have put th Mc in front of a lot ofthier products. In fact your McDental is good comparison to Lindows.
There was a motel named the Hallmark. Hallmark cards went after them. They has no luck because the people who owned the motel were named Hallmark. The family who owns Hallmark Cards is named Hall.
“MS only claims trademark over the word windows when it relates to naming computer operating systems.”
And that is bad enough since they are trademarking a computer operating system technical term. Windows, Icons, Mouse, Pointer. That they were able to do so shows that they did it before the copyright offices had a clue and/or big money talks.
“Just as Ferrari only claims trademark over the name Ferrari when it relates to automobiles. I am sure that if my name was Ferrari, I owned a window manufacturing company ans called my windows “Ferrari Windows” neither of them would even notice.”
Trademarks only apply to the field and usage that you state the trademark is for. (Been looking at applying for a couple myself) There are also further limitations if a trademark is a real word or a name that make this more stringent. A made up word can be trademarked more widely so that yes, Ferrari Windows the window maker would be fine (non-competing and family name), Microsoft Windows or just Microsoft the window maker would not be because although it was not competing the word was made up and you would more than likely not make up the same word twice, especially in such a non Micro or Soft environment.
“Get a grip. Life is short.”
Yeah get a grip, life is to short to try to try and do something about big companies rolling over smaller ones. It is just long enough to bitch at others though.
i think they should change name to vvindowsOS it will sound weird but look like windows
it will do the job of pissing ms off
>You missed my point. Was the dentist’s name McDentist?
Actually, you missed mine.
It wouldn’t have mattered if it was. In fact, it wouldn’t necessarily have mattered if McDental had been around since _before_ McDonald’s. When a trademark is very famous, a different set of rules can apply. Well-known marks, by law, are given greater latitude and protection than lesser-known marks – courts have been willing to extend that protection well beyond the actual products sold under those marks, and to let fame trump age (who came first) and family name connections. Read up on trademark dilution if you’re really interested. I’m not saying I’m happy about the above, but I believe I’ve accurately described the reality.
(For what it’s worth, your point is generally correct. But not always — very famous marks are treated differently. Just as I said in my earlier post.)
As for Lindows… They certainly have a point that “Windows” is a very weak trademark. It’s a generic GUI term. Still, the mark is extremely well established at this point. And while I doubt many people are actually confused between Lindows and Windows, marks have been thrown out for less. Blue Chapel wine was too much like Blue Nun, etc.
You can’t trademark a “generic term” for a category of products. Trademark law doesn’t allow for that.
If Delta Airlines tried to trademark the word “Jet,” they wouldn’t be allowed to do that. Microsoft paid off lots of people to bend the rules that everyone else has to play by. “Windows” was very much a category of products, and there were dozens of company who used the word to describe their window managers, so MS doesn’t have a valid trademark.
Fortunately for us, the US courts have agreed with us to date, and that’s why we have not been forced to stop using “LindowsOS,” in the states.
We just think MS should not be able to do things that you and I can’t do, just because they have lots of money.
Kevin Carmony
President, Lindows.com, Inc.
I totally support free speech, but I think it is not very professional to call yourself Lindows when there is Windows, which sells the same thing (OS). Having that said, if I am not so broke lately, I would support them anyhow.
$100 is really a good deal, by the way.
“I don’t think a colour has yet been trademarked”..isn’t the telecom’s co. “Orange” a trademark?
So in answer to the comment about the telco Orange. The graphic logo is a trademark, the word and company name Orange is not. Any services they build can however be trademarks so for instance “Orange Shop” is a trademark.
In The Netherlands, “PTT green” and “Zwitsal yellow” are examples of registered trademarks. There are some limitations and it only “counts” for related products. I.e., you can paint your car “PTT green” but if you use the color in an advert for a competing telecom operator or paint your shampoo bottle “Zwitsal yellow”, you’re in trouble.
I think that even if people could choose between a computer preinstalled with Windows and one with Lindows, they would still choose Windows
Mostly because people are used to this and it works good enough for them. Humans are only humans 
Good Luck to Lindows!
well what can we say? Lindows is linux and it sucks just like linux. Windows is used by hundereds of millions of people, linux is used by at max 30 million desktop users. Do the math , what platform do you think i work for because it gives me the money for a decent life eh?
Sad little linux people admit your os is just for tinkering around with oh and for servers and that is it i wont be seeing linux make any major inroads into the desktop scene anytime soon, and well who cares really eh? linux sucks it is not a mainstream os and it is peopled by sad little boys who think they can take on the might of the windows god, bet they are the same saddoes who also release all the virii for windows thinking they can bring it down that way, well it doesn’t work that way you fools.
If you give them 100 bucks and they have to change the LindowsOS name to something like LinOS will the lifetime membership for “LindowsOS” be valid?
“Exactly what will I get for my $US100?
A lot! First, you’ll receive a lifetime license to every digital version of LindowsOS normally available for public release.”