A judge in the Netherlands today granted Microsoft a preliminary injunction against desktop Linux vendor Lindows.com Inc., a decision Lindows.com plans to appeal. The ruling will deny the Netherlands the cost- savings that desktop Linux currently offers to approximately 18 million people worldwide, leaving vulnerable and expensive Microsoft software as the only option for computer consumers in the Netherlands.

Michael Robertson, CEO of Lindows.com Inc, made no bones about it, as usual: "It's clear that Microsoft is using their army of hundreds of attorneys and billions of dollars as a battering ram to destroy any company that promotes desktop Linux," he said .

"They were unsuccessful in the U.S. with this tactic," Robertson continues, "so now they're resorting to picking countries where they will find a sympathetic court."

"Today," he concluded, sounding a warning note to Dutch consumers, "U.S. customers can purchase computers pre-installed with desktop Linux and are saving millions of dollars when compared with expensive, virus-prone software from Microsoft. This ruling may delay the day when Dutch customers receive those same savings, but I can assure you that we will continue to battle to bring the benefit of choice to the Netherlands."

The official statement by Lindows.com Inc states:

Lindows.com will abide by the terms of the ruling, but will appeal the decision that deprives Dutch consumers of the cost-savings that desktop Linux users worldwide have experienced. Lindows.com products have enabled $199 PCs and $699 laptops to be widely available in the United States, where courts twice denied Microsoft's requests for a preliminary injunction against Lindows.com ( www.lindows.com/msftdenied ). The exclusivity of Microsoft products in the Dutch computer market results in consumers paying inflated prices for vulnerable software.

Despite the March 1, 2004 trial scheduled in the United States, Microsoft has been opening multiple fronts in Europe in an attempt to drain the resources of competitors. The software giant has threatened resellers and brought legal action against Lindows.com in several countries of the European Union, including France, Sweden, and Finland. The moves prompted the launch of ChoicePC, a rallying point for supporters of choice in European countries that was met with overwhelming support ( www.lindows.com/choicesuccess ).

Details of the continuing litigation between Microsoft and Lindows.com are available here. And those interested in attending or receiving updates on the March 1, 2004 trial in Seattle, Washington, are invited to register at www.lindows.com/attend.

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