“The auction for the pick of 250 corporate consulting type
Linux® domain names has been discontinued at the request of
attorneys for Linus Tornvalds, trademark owner of Linux®.
Our understanding of their position is that we cannot have an
outright auction of domain names that contain the word Linux, and
that those legitimate Linux consultancies or programming shops that
are interested in any of our domain names that incorporate
Linux® must approach Mr. Tornvalds et al to make sure that the
domain name is worthy to be granted a license, with a customary
“nominal fee.” There are many websites that have apparently already
been approved to use the Linux® mark incorporated in their
domain name.”