[Am-info] Microsoft Releasing Records to Lindows

[Mitch Stone]

This could be interesting... the "look and feel" lawsuit's been the 
subject of much debate and speculation over the years. Perhaps now some 
answers will come to light.

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Microsoft Releasing Records to Lindows

3 Mar 2003, 8:10pm ET

SEATTLE (AP) -- A federal court in Seattle has ordered Microsoft Corp. 
to release thousands of documents to San Diego-based Lindows.com, as 
the Redmond company presses its claims that Lindows' name infringes on 
Microsoft's Windows trademark.

In addition, the court postponed the start of the trial from April 7 to 
Dec. 1.

The order, issued last week, requires Microsoft to release documents 
including testimony and transcripts from an unsuccessful lawsuit filed 
by Apple Computer in 1988 against Microsoft alleging copyright 
violations for using icons, windows and other graphical elements in its 
operating system.

Some of the documents covered by the order were not previously made 
public.

Lindows sells an operating system for computers based on Linux that can 
run many programs designed for Windows. Microsoft filed suit in 
December 2001 against Lindows, saying the company's name and Lindows OS 
product violated Microsoft's trademark for Windows.

"We're hopeful the documents will add to the mountain of evidence that 
demonstrates the term 'windows' is generic and not the exclusive 
property of any one company," said Michael Robertson, chief executive 
of Lindows.com, in a statement Monday.

But Microsoft spokesman Jim Desler called the order routine. "The 
evidence in this case is clear and compelling and supports our position 
that this is trademark infringement," Desler said.