11.18.08
We Can’t Say “Microvell” Anymore
A short while ago it turned out that there is already a company called “Microvell” (maybe even more than one), so we cannot use that word anymore. It’s not as innocent as it initially seemed.
For what it’s worth, we are probably not the origin of this name and we are not the only ones using it to describe the grouping of Microsoft and Novell. But as the conversation below suggests, we should stop using the word, no matter how adequate it seems every now and then. We wrote about trademarks almost exactly one year ago.
| *alan (n=chatzill) has joined #boycottnovell | Nov 18 18:05 | |
| schestowitz | Hi, alan | Nov 18 18:06 |
|---|---|---|
| alan | Aloha | Nov 18 18:06 |
| alan | I was just wondering if you knew that microvell is a registered company | Nov 18 18:06 |
| schestowitz | Let me check. | Nov 18 18:06 |
| alan | http://www.microvell.net/ | Nov 18 18:07 |
| schestowitz | Oh my god!  I didn’t know. |
Nov 18 18:07 |
| alan | They may not appreciate being caught in any crossfire is all | Nov 18 18:07 |
| schestowitz | Do you know them? | Nov 18 18:07 |
| schestowitz | Is there also a Novellsoft? | Nov 18 18:08 |
| alan | Who knows | Nov 18 18:08 |
| schestowitz | http://toolbar.netcraft.com/site_… “Date first seenAugust 2000″ | Nov 18 18:08 |
| schestowitz | Did you hear anything from them? | Nov 18 18:08 |
| *alan has quit (Client Quit) | Nov 18 18:09 | |
| schestowitz | Eeek. http://toolbar.netcraft.com/site_re… | Nov 18 18:09 |
| schestowitz | http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=mozclient… | Nov 18 18:09 |
| schestowitz | Since he left, he might be associated with the company. | Nov 18 18:10 |
Thoughts are always welcome. We discuss this in IRC at this very moment. █
Josh Bell said,
November 18, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Yes there is a Novellsoft too. Sorry
Roy Schestowitz said,
November 18, 2008 at 5:29 pm
It’s being said in IRC right now that “Microveil” and “Microval” are taken as well.
Dick said,
November 18, 2008 at 5:36 pm
You morons. Don’t you know that the only reason why Micros**t is even cooperating with Novell is because the company is a convicted monopolist in the courts of the U.S. and the E.U. and were court ordered (i.e. COURT ORDERED) to cooperate with Linux companies? Otherwise, M$ wouldn’t touch Novell with a 10″ pole. They were convicted of being being villainous and conniving schemers bent on breaking antitrust laws and are now doing Linux Community service!
Enjoy it while it lasts.
Roy Schestowitz said,
November 18, 2008 at 5:44 pm
I disagree. They want to keep the cake (knock off regulators) and eat it too (harm Free software). That’s just what they do.
I’ll do a FAQ to explain this point. Pretty soon, I promise.
Jose_X said,
November 19, 2008 at 1:15 am
When were these names taken? Was it recently, perhaps in an effort to have it removed from sites like this?
Dick, Microsoft would love to be the commercial Linux supplier of choice. Commercial Linux would cease to be a threat to them that day. With commercial Linux down or owned, the rest would be less of a threat to them as well.
Novell is being Microsoft’s dream Linux partner. Microsoft even appears to keep Novell afloat financially. Taking Novell’s actions (spreading the MSGospel and MScrack) and their dependence on Microsoft (for money, for information, for a business plan …) into account, it’s clear to me that Novell’s Linux (and opensuse) should be boycotted, etc, by those that care about Linux+FOSS.
Victor Soliz said,
November 20, 2008 at 3:02 pm
It was lame anyway.
It is better to just say Microsoft/Novell or Novell (Microsoft) it may not be short but it is clear.
“Obviously Microsoft/Novell would love Linux desktop to grow its Mono dependency”
See? Seems to work.
Roy Schestowitz said,
November 20, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Yes, weasel words were never effective.
I’m beginning to worry that Microsoft will do to Novell and VMware what it did to Yahoo or even Borland. Microsoft has already snapped up some Novell employee and put one of its most abusive executives inside VMware (as CEO).