[Am-info] [Fwd: Lindows.com Responds to Microsoft's Takedown Notice of MSfreePC.com]

[mike]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	Lindows.com Responds to Microsoft's Takedown 
Notice of
MSfreePC.com
Date: 	Tue, 30 Sep 2003 10:55:12 -0800
From: 	Lindows.com Press <mailer@mailer.lindows.com>
To: 	mikestp@telus.net



Lindows.com Responds to Microsoft's Takedown Notice of 
MSfreePC.com


SAN DIEGO, Sept. 30 -- Lindows.com Inc. responds to 
Microsoft's (Nasdaq:
MSFT <http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=msft&d=t>) takedown notice
(www.lindows.com/takedown <http://www.lindows.com/takedown>) of
MSfreePC.com (www.MSfreePC.com <http://www.MSfreePC.com>) 
issued on
September 26, 2003.


Mr. Bill Gates
Chairman
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052-6399
USA

Dear Mr. Gates,

I received your letter concerning MSfreePC.com and I am 
disappointed
that you cannot see how MSfreePC honors both the spirit and 
the letter
of the anti-trust settlement agreement.  Consumers should 
benefit as a
result of Microsoft's poor behavior and MSfreePC uses modern 
technology
to make that happen rather than forcing customers to send in 
paper forms
via snail mail multiple times.

I am surprised at some of your objections, specifically your 
protests
that digital signatures are not valid.  You seem to have no 
objections
when digital signatures are used to attempt to build 
Microsoft's profits
such as with MSN, Expedia, or .Net.  Perhaps it would be 
more palatable
if everyone using MSfreePC also got a Passport account?  I 
would also
point out that Microsoft uses digital signatures to bind 
people to their
restrictive end-user licensing agreements.  It is 
hypocritical for
Microsoft to endorse digital transactions to bolster your 
business, but
resist them whenever it may negatively impact your bottomline.

It's also shameful that such a wealthy company uses public 
schools as a
smokescreen to hide your true motivations which is to reduce 
the payout
Microsoft has to perform.  As you are aware, Microsoft 
benefits greatly
if consumers do not submit claims or drop-out anywhere in 
the laborious
process. One-third of all unclaimed dollars are refunded 
back to
Microsoft.  One-third of unclaimed dollars are required by 
schools to be
spent on software which, given Microsoft enormous market 
share, means
most of those dollars will simply circle back to Microsoft. 
  The
remaining one-third can be spent on hardware which even then 
will likely
come with Microsoft software further reducing the dollars 
Microsoft will
be paying out.  If you have genuine concern for California 
schools, then
why not give 100% of unclaimed monies to schools in cash for 
even
non-technology needs of which there are many?  This would 
clearly
demonstrate that the settlement is not designed to minimize 
the amount
of money Microsoft must pay.

It's undeniable that Microsoft's actual settlement amount 
will be
dramatically less than the $1.1B amount trumpeted in the 
headlines --
the complexity of the manual settlement claim process and 
the above
favorable terms will ensure that.  The $1.1B number is purely a
publicity stunt and should not be used as a reference point 
for any part
of this process.  Clearly it's in Microsoft's self-interest to
discourage claims and it's disappointing to see a technology 
advocate
become so technology adverse and resist even the slightest 
attempts to
help consumers claim a portion of the of the extremely
Microsoft-favorable settlement agreement.

The MSfreePC service gives harmed consumers immediate value 
and access
to the solid StarOffice suite (which saves Microsoft Windows 
and Linux
users hundreds of dollars by allowing them to replace 
Microsoft Office)
and LindowsOS, your competition for the PC desktop.  We will 
continue to
offer the MSfreePC service and in fact those who are 
eligible will
receive immediate notification and be the first to download the
incredible new StarOffice 7.0 coming out shortly.

Our plan is to continue to offer the MSfreePC service in 
spite of your
threats.  If required, we will be a voice in the courtroom 
defending a
consumer's right to use technology and an online process to 
secure their
settlement claims.  I believe your company refers to this as 
the "right
to innovate."

Sincerely,
Michael Robertson
Chief Executive Officer
Lindows.com Inc.


For further information, please contact
Cheryl Schwarzman
Director, PR
Lindows.com, Inc.
+1-858-587-6700, ext. 241
fax +1-858-587-8095
pr@lindows.com <mailto:pr@lindows.com>