Microsoft has managed to get the impudent upstart kicked out of some European countries through court-ordered injunctions and is working on barring it from other countries although the Microsoft blitzkrieg hit an impasse in France last week where it was denied a preliminary injunction against Lindows. Still, Lindows complains that it doesn't have the resources to fight Microsoft in "courts around the world."

Lindows CEO Michael Robertson says he hopes the name change "puts a halt to the international lawsuits" since Microsoft said all it wanted was for Lindows to change its name.

Meanwhile, Robertson intends to press his advantage in the US court, where Microsoft's trademark infringement suit against Lindows has managed to turn into a defense of the Windows trademark. Currently it's on hold pending a Microsoft appeal of a court ruling.

Lindows is using the new branding and Web site worldwide although it says the Lindows moniker will still be "used in the United States in certain instances and as the corporate name." It says the operating systems will be branded Linspire throughout and figures its entire software line will carry the new brand in two weeks.

It said it would use www.linspire.com for selling and providing information on its software and the newfangled www.lindowsinc.com for corporate information.

Robertson said that of all naming suggestions he got his favorite was "lindos" with the slogan "Because it's the W that is causing all the problems."

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