Kernel release: 2.4.25-rc2, Feb 11, 2004

2.4.25-rc2 has been released today.
See changelog for full details.

Files added: 325
Files changed: 1763
Files removed: 40

Microsoft's trademark infringement case against Lindows.com has been delayed indefinitely pending an appeals court ruling.

The case had been scheduled to go to trial March 1. Now, it will be delayed so that an appeals court can rule on an issue regarding the timeframe that should be used to consider the case.

The issue centers on whether the word "windows" is a generic term in the technology industry, or whether Microsoft can argue that Lindows is violating its trademark by using a term similar to that of its Windows operating system.

A legal expert affiliated with the Open Source Development Labs claims the SCO Group cannot file a lawsuit against a Linux customer until its copyright dispute with Novell is ironed out.

In a paper today issued by the OSDL, Professor Eben Moglen of Columbia University and the Free Software Foundation said customers using Linux can rest easy and wait for a final decision as to whether SCO or Novell owns the copyrights to Unix.

Moglen, however, maintains in his letter distributed on Tuesday that SCO cannot move ahead with the plan to serve a customer until its copyright dispute with Novell is legally decided.

Munich is struggling with its planned migration from proprietary software to open-source applications, according to news stories in the German press that paint an increasingly gloomy picture of what had originally been widely described as a shining success story for Linux.

Financial and technical problems have dogged "Project LiMux -- the IT-Evolution." Resistance to change within Munich's Rathaus (City Hall) has also been cited in the German press as a source of problems that might delay the project.

But Project LiMux team members said that the current problems aren't insurmountable and aren't directly connected to the use of open-source applications

The Mozilla Foundation Monday changed the name one last time of its next generation open-source browser, and launched a preview edition of the software that can be downloaded for Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X.

Formerly called Firebird -- and before that Phoenix -- the Firefox 0.8 standalone browser comes with a new streamlined download manager, an updated bookmark handler that allows for the creation of folders to better organize favorite sites, better handling of external file types such as .wma and .rar files, and a new offline mode that lets users view previously-seen pages even when not connected to the Internet.

Among other improvements, the browser now better handles extensions, the small downloadable applets for such chores as spell checking, removing ad banners, and the like.

Local authorities and companies who are interested in ditching their proprietary software in favour of open source are being encouraged to join a confidential scheme that aims to protect them from the attentions of firms such as Microsoft.

The initiative, called The Incubator Club, is said to be a response to the tactics employed by some major software vendors against firms and organisations who consider using Linux.

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