Lindows-Microsoft legal spat builds

Lindows.com reported Monday that Microsoft proffered legal papers seeking to disavow California class-action settlement claims submitted via the Linux
distributor’s MSfreePC Web site.

In a motion filed with the Superior Court of California for San Francisco County, Microsoft asked Judge Paul H. Alvarado to reject all claims
processed by the Lindows site, which offers to help people garner benefits from Microsoft’s $1.1 billion class-action settlement. In the latest legal
filings, the software giant’s attorney, Robert A. Rosenfeld, writes that the Lindows site violates the terms of Microsoft’s agreement by using
so-called digital signatures to process settlement claims. Digital signatures are online validation agreements used to verify individuals’ identities.

Microsoft was not immediately available to comment on the filing.