Microsoft will pay $20 million to Lindows to give up the Lindows name and assign all related Web domains that it owns to Microsoft, according to the registration statement Lindows filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Under the terms of the settlement, Microsoft will pay $15 million initially, "by wire transfer pursuant to instructions to be provided by Lindows," the Confidential Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release of Claims statement stated. Microsoft will then make the remaining payment of $5 million within seven days of the "execution and confirmation by Lindows of the Domain Name Assignment." "This case was centered on the fundamentals of international trademark law and our necessary efforts to protect the Windows trademark against infringement," said Tom Burt, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel for Microsoft, in a statement. "This settlement addresses those concerns, and we are pleased that Lindows will now compete in the marketplace with a name distinctly its own."

Full story here: http://www.internetnews.com/dev-news/article.php/3383071

You know.... at first I was upset that they sold out ... then after a little thought, I was like "Hell, for 20 million, I'd sell Microsoft my whole freakin name" I wouldn't have a problem changing my name to Bob or John. $20 Million and I could have it monogramed on my damn underwear.

Peace

Yeah, I'm a bit bummed they did too, but how much global advertising do you think $20mil could buy. Linspire could well become a very well known brand name on the back of Microsoft's paranoid purse!

Alternatively, it could go into further development of an already well-respected platform. Either way it will ultimately be a positive result for the open-source community IMHO.

Rock on!