Microsoft ordered to pay Lindows' court fees

An Amsterdam court has ruled against Microsoft in its attempt to obtain an injunction against Lindows, a maker of Linux software, as the two companies' trademark dispute continues.

The software giant had objected to the appearance of the word "Lindows" on the company's Web site, technical manuals and other places. Microsoft had also asked the court to levy fines of more than $100,000 per day against Lindows.

But Thursday, a judge in the Amsterdam District Court denied Microsoft's request for an injunction and ordered the software giant to pay roughly $1,160 in legal fees related to the litigation.

According to the ruling, Lindows has complied with the terms of the original decision and can continue to use the name on a limited basis, as long as it clearly denotes that it is not affiliated with Microsoft's Windows. The judge said that since the name Lindows is still being used legally outside the Benelux countries, and the use of the name does not provide Lindows with a competitive advantage, there is no infringement.