Lindows executives have rolled out a new moniker for its desktop Linux software and the name is...Linspire

The new name of the formerly Windows-sounding outfit is to comply with a European court's ruling that said the company's use of Lindows in its product cut a little too close to Microsoft's (Quote, Chart) Windows trademark. The company's Web site can still be found at www.Lindows.com, but officials have created a new home page at Linspire.com, and said they would re-brand their software under the Linspire name. Lindows officials said customers would not need to upgrade, and that Linspire "is similar in features and capabilities" to LindowsOS; existing users can download Linspire at no cost. Original equipment manufacturers (define) can expect to roll out Linspire-branded software within two weeks, the company said. On March 8, an Amersterdam appeals court ruled the average user might not be able to tell the difference between the use of Windows and Lindows (whose Linux-based operating system works with Windows documents using the OpenOffice application suite). The court ordered the San Diego software company to change its name for the country's customers, or face a fine for every day it didn't comply. Microsoft further argued Internet users in the Netherlands were viewing the term Lindows at the Lindows.com Web site and asked the site name changed, too. Since the ruling, Lindows online forums have been inundated with suggestions for the new name, many of them just poking fun at the company that forced the change. In order to avoid more trademark litigation, some names posters suggested: LinGate, Lyndose, Lindoors, DoorNix -- A Doorway to Linux and Lindux.