Microsoft Takes On Teen Over Web Site

[KingCobra]

Microsoft's Pushing The Little Guys Around Again!

Mon Jan 19, 8:05 AM ET - Assoicated Press

Quote:

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Mike Rowe thinks it's funny that his catchy name for a Web site design company sounds a lot like Microsoft.

The software giant, however, is not amused.

"Since my name is Mike Rowe, I thought it would be funny to add 'soft' to the end of it," said Rowe, a 17-year-old computer geek and Grade 12 student in Victoria, British Columbia.

Microsoft Corp. and its attorneys have demanded that he give up his domain name, the Vancouver Province newspaper reported Sunday.

Rowe registered the name in August. In November, he received a letter from Microsoft's Canadian lawyers, Smart & Biggar, informing him he was committing copyright infringement.

He was advised to transfer the name to the Redmond, Wash.-based corporation.

"I didn't think they would get all their high-priced lawyers to come after me," Rowe said.

He wrote back asking to be compensated for giving up his name. Microsoft's lawyers offered him $10 in U.S. funds. Then he asked for $10,000.

On Thursday, he received a 25-page letter accusing him of trying to force Microsoft into giving him a large settlement.

"I never even thought of getting anything out of them," he said, adding that he only asked for the $10,000 because he was "sort of mad at them for only offering 10 bucks."

He said family and friends are backing him and a lawyer has offered to advise him for free.

He's also keeping his sense of humor.

"It's not their name. It's my name. I just think it's kind of funny that they'd go after a 17-year-old," Rowe said.

Company spokesman Jim Desler said Sunday, "Microsoft has been in communication with Mr. Rowe in a good faith effort to reach a mutually agreeable resolution. And we remain hopeful we can resolve this issue to everyone's satisfaction."

Code:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040119/ap_on_fe_st/microsoft_unhappy_1

[unicorn]

I don't know for sure what that is going on in Redmond but to me it's obvious somebody there should start take his pills again.

[PCTech]

uni you're right, someone in redmond needs to take some mydole. If you say it right it sounds like microsoft, but the spelling really isn't. What if he had a company named that? Would MS still come after them?

[rikytik]

This guy should hold our for more money. No question. This is an opportunity.

[~*McoreD*~]

Quote:

:: Microsoft Updates :: January 19/2004 :: Wow. 
Wow, this is amazing. My site this morning went down because of the massive amounts of visitors coming to my site. 250000 to be exact. My host couldn't handle the bandwidth so he was forced to shut it it down. I pleaded my case on a couple message boards and Deafening-urge.net came through for me with a great offer to host my site. Many thanks to him

Code:

http://www.mikerowesoft.com

To me m-i-k-e-r-o-w-e-s-o-f-t pronounces just like m-i-c-r-o-s-o-f-t

[SlickVic78]

Micro$oft is just pushing their weight around again... It's the kids name for crying out loud... obviously adding the "soft" to it... Which is pretty brilliant if you ask me. The kid should definitely hold out, and fight this in court... He shouldn't have to give up his domain just because it sounds like "Microsoft". Jesus - if that were the case, I wonder how many other domains out there should Microsoft go after? Just a waste of time and money on their behalf - but then again, they have enough in the bank to piss away... :lol1:

EDIT
Some more news on this matter: hxxp://msn.com.com/2100-1104_2-5143614.html?part=msn&subj=ns_2543&tag=mymsn

Quote:

However, after the case received widespread coverage on the Internet, Microsoft has acknowledged that it may have taken things too far and has promised to treat Rowe fairly. A representative of the software company told ZDNet UK: "We appreciate that Mike Rowe is a young entrepreneur who came up with a creative domain name. We take our trademark seriously, but maybe a little too seriously in this case."

Quote:

According to Robertson, Rowe may have a good argument for keeping the domain name, because it is his real name, and he isn't pretending to be affiliated with Microsoft. But he said Microsoft probably regrets getting involved with the case because of all the bad publicity it has generated.

-SlickVic78

[PCTech]

I think if this guy wins it will be pretty neat, a 17 year old put it to the big MS! I would hold out, after all like it was said above it is his real name! I wouln't close a domain name down if someone copyrighted my name! Well best of luck to him at any rate!

Regards,
~PCTech

[KingCobra]

I think someone is going to get fired over this at Microsoft.

I wonder if this guy had anything to do with this M$ mess.

Steven Ballmer, 47
M$ CEO, Director Pay $871.00K

Code:

http://www.ntk.net/media/dancemonkeyboy.mpg

[~*McoreD*~]

OMG, Can anybody please briefly explain why Steven Ballmer is going to get fired? I am in poor dialup (even worse 32k) so I would rather prefer a text based answer. Thank you.

Steven Ballmer is (was) a BIG man over there.

[war59312]

haha OMG...

IF this goes to court and he wins then I think i will be the first copy cat..lol..already got 50 domain names i might register...ha

Like mikesasoft.com lol now watch someone buy it...haha...