LindowsOS.com Email Lists Collected For MS Suit

Over at the LindowsOS website is a message from company chief Michael Robertson, who advises readers that, in the course of discovery for the ongoing lawsuit instigated by Microsoft against Lindows.com, the company was "compelled to disclose your email address to Microsoft." The email addresses aren't just those who have submitted product names with a connection to "Windows", but rather "everyone who had submitted their address asking to be signed up for the Lindows.com mailing list since we turned on the website," according to email from Robertson. He adds: "The information which Microsoft received in the list was name, email address and physical address. It was not just people that posted to our forum, but basically every address for every person that we had collected." (Note: If you'd like to contribute to the list of "Windows" products, it would be helpful to include more than just a product name photocopy -- e.g. a company name, URL, or photocopied manual.).Update by HeUnique: And here is Michael Robertson comment.

Another Grass Roots Campaign

[sabinm]

Next thing you know Joe_potential_Lindows_User
will be "sending" a letter to congress praising M$'s "Right to Innovate", along with his dead cat, fish, and web server.

email from Microsoft Branding Dept.

[LuxFX]

Dear Lindows.com Friend,

As a Lindows.com Friend, we at Microsoft hold you responsible for encroaching on the Microsoft brand with the naming of the Lindows product. Microsoft is shocked and appalled at the countless number of people that each made the executive level decision of approving this product name, and plan on holding every one of you responsible. In addition, you will be added to all of the Microsoft, MSN, and MSDN mailing lists to further convince you of the uniqueness of the Microsoft brand. We also might forward all of the blocked SPAM at Hotmail.com to you, since we now have your email addresses.

Sincerely,
*******, Head of Corporate Branding

Subject: Hi there!

[Dark_Cobra87]

To:
Subject: Hi there!

Dear Dark Cobra,

Hello there! This is an automated e-mail from Bill Gates. Well, actually his secretary, but you get the picture.

We were recently informed of your interest in LindowsOS. Unfortunantly, we cannot allow them to illegally use our stuff or whatever. We do, however, offer you an alternative.

Windows XP! It's fun, easy, and only crashes once in a while! Although we currently offer no support for "Linus" programs, we do include minesweeper and solitaire.

Oh, and a little reminder! We ask of your help and support in our court battles. Please write to your nearest congressman and fight for our right to continue to own your PC.

Sincerly ( Love, ??? I'm new at this!)
Amand--
er, Bill Gates

Re:Is it too late to have my address submitted? :)

[glwtta]

they'll make you turn over all our user account info soon

Good! It's about time MS learned about my awesome Karma - that'll teach 'em some respect!

Re:Truth is...

[cscx]

"I mean, after all, if a company came along calling itself Lisney, and had a character named Lickey Louse, there would definitely be concern."

You know, there's something about a parasite that licks people that I think just might be bad for business...

This Brings Back Memories...

[guttentag]

of John Landis's Coming to America [imdb.com] :

They are McDonalds, we are McDowells. They have the Golden Arches, we have the Golden Arcs. They have two all beef patties special sauce lettuce cheese pickles onions on a sesame seed bun. We also have two all beef patties special sauce lettuce cheese pickles onions... but they're no seeds in OUR buns.

In this case, I'd love to see the defense attorney tell the judge:

They have Windows, we have Lindows. They have "feature-rich" products, we call them "not ready to ship" products. They have the ability to run Windows programs. We also have the ability to run Windows programs, but there is no need to choose between Windows and Linux with OUR operating system.

Re:you wish

[Anonymous Coward]

there can'nt be that many dumb asses who buy a penis enarger sales kit.
Ohh yes there is, browse at -1 ;-)

Re:Bullfeathers!

[user32.ExitWindowsEx]

They didn't create Windows out of the blue. They created the blue (screen of death) out of Windows.

Re:Since turnabout is fair play...

[niola]

You don't need to suboena Microsoft's mailing lists. Just find the address of one of their IIS/Exchange servers and help yourself ;)

--Jon

Re:Truth is...

[Anonymous Coward]

What about freedows ? I don't recall MS ever getting on their hi horse and trying to stomp them out.

Re:Truth is...

[LinuxGeek]

It is great to now understand that Microsoft finds no potential trademark or consumer confusion problems with names like:

alt.binaries.warez.nt
alt.binaries.warez.win2000
alt.binaries.warez.win95
alt.binaries.warez.win-me
alt.binaries.warez.windows31
alt.binaries.ms-windows
alt.os.windows95.crash.crash.crash
comp.emulators.ms-windows.wine

They haven't filed any lawsuits to wipe out this unauthorized trademark infringment ( that I could find on google anyway).

Given Microsofts implied endorsment for the above naming conventions, I propose a new name for Lindows:

alt.windows.that.works

Re:Answers

[Steve Cox]

> Also, Microsoft is alleging that anytime someone uses the word "windows" that means Microsoft.

It could be true. I bought some double-glazing recently, and the salesman kept on calling them 'double-glazed units' rather than double glazed Windows(TM).

Steve.

Re:Answers

[IronChef]

And I'm sure we can work out a bargain per-post fee, or depending on your needs, a quarterly license. Please sign here:

X________________________

;)

Re:Answers

[rbruels]

Oh great. I just scribbed my signature in felt-tip on my LCD. Thanks, man. (grumble)

Rather like the proverbial blonde with the white-out on the screen...