Apple vs Apple suit date set

Apple Computer will face Apple Corporation, the Beatles` recording company, in court next year to determine which has the right to use the word `apple` in relation to the music business.

Apple Corporation has been doing so since the 1960s, while Apple Computer has been doing so via iTunes since 2002.

The UK court hearing has been set for 27 March.

According to The Register, Apple and Apple have been here before, with 'Corp` suing 'Comp` a number of times over the last 20 years as it has perceived the Mac maker as treading on its trademark toes.

Those cases ended with Comp settling out of court, paying Corp huge sums, and agreeing not to enter the music market again. However, with the iTunes Music Store, Apple Computer has gone too far, Apple Corporation alleges, and it is suing for damages.

Microsoft is trying to lure users of bogus copies of Windows XP with an enticing offer: a free, licensed version of the operating system, but there is a catch.

According to News.com, customers will have to fill out a counterfeit report with Microsoft and be able to provide the Windows disk they have, as well as some kind of receipt for their purchase. Those who don`t have the disk or the receipt are eligible to buy a licensed copy online for $149 (R900).

The move is the latest in a series of expansions for the Windows Genuine Advantage programme, which Microsoft quietly launched last September. The programme, which runs software that verifies whether a particular copy of Windows is legitimately licensed, is the linchpin of a Microsoft campaign to boost the number of paying customers among the millions of people that use Windows.

Open source Web browser Firefox has passed 50 million downloads times since its official launch in November.

To celebrate, the Mozilla Foundation is giving away commemorative coins to people who have done the best job promoting it, BBC reports.

The 50 coins were specially designed by one of the foundation`s volunteers, Jamey Boj'e.

Internet Explorer still has 86% of the browser market, according to Web analytics company OneStat.com, but Firefox has gained ground.

Firefox said earlier this year that it wanted 10% of the browser market by the end of 2005.