Bob Kerstein, a technology entrepreneur and former McCaw Cellular Communications executive, said he has the common-law trademark to the term Windows 2000.

But he said that he does not intend to press any claim to the term against Microsoft, despite plenty of encouragement in the form of electronic mail from people hostile to the software giant.

"I'm a big Microsoft supporter," he told Reuters. "I have no axe to grind with them."

Kerstein, who is involved with an effort to launch high-speed Internet linkups via high-altitude airplanes, uses the Windows 2000 name for a Web site that offers a collection of live camera views from around the world.

The Windows2000.com site is part of his Encyberpedia, an online reference guide.

"We're aware of the site, and we were aware of it beforethe Windows 2000 name was announced," said Microsoft spokesman Adam Soan. "I don't think that really affects us because we've been naming Windows by the year since 1995."

Microsoft, which has trademarked the Windows name for its market-dominating family of computer operating systems, said last week Windows 2000 would be the name for the next version of its high-end Windows NT line, due out next year.

Earlier this year, Microsoft went to court for the right to continue using the name Internet Explorer for its market-leading browser. The company ultimately settled by paying the bankrupt owner of the name $5 million.

Soan said Microsoft has no plans to take action against Kerstein, who said he has talked with lawyers but has not been contacted by the Redmond, Washington-based company.