The Wicked Wop Posted January 19, 2004 Share Posted January 19, 2004 http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/internet/01/19/offbeat.mike.rowe.soft.ap/index.html Microsoft takes on teen's site MikeRoweSoft.com VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) --It's Microsoft versus Mike Rowe-soft. Rowe, a 17-year-old high school senior and Web designer from Victoria, has angered the software giant by registering an Internet site with the address www.MikeRoweSoft.com. "Since my name is Mike Rowe, I thought it would be funny to add 'soft' to the end of it," said Rowe. Microsoft, however, is not amused. It has demanded that he give up his domain name. In November, Rowe received a letter from Microsoft's Canadian lawyers informing him he was committing copyright infringement. "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." Microsoft 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." Rowe is 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gridironmike Posted January 19, 2004 Share Posted January 19, 2004 Ridiculous! Sock it to 'em Mike! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbooma Posted January 19, 2004 Share Posted January 19, 2004 If he did this intentionally then MS will have a very good case. Speaking of MS did you hear that Real Network is suing them because they are not charging for their multimedia like Real is doing :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Punani2 Posted January 19, 2004 Share Posted January 19, 2004 They have NO case and they know it...douchebags!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gridironmike Posted January 19, 2004 Share Posted January 19, 2004 I can't get the site to come up. Has it crashed with all the attention? What was on the site? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG Posted January 19, 2004 Share Posted January 19, 2004 Dude take 'em on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Where's Kackie Chiles errrr.......I mean Johnny Cochran????????????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webnarc Posted January 19, 2004 Share Posted January 19, 2004 Originally posted by gridironmike I can't get the site to come up. Has it crashed with all the attention? What was on the site? http://www.google.ca/search?q=cache:FSp2EjIGGqwJ:www.mikerowesoft.com/+&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 Googles cached version. There isn't much on the site and nothing, so far as I can tell, that's should piss MS off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webnarc Posted January 19, 2004 Share Posted January 19, 2004 Originally posted by webnarc http://www.google.ca/search?q=cache:FSp2EjIGGqwJ:www.mikerowesoft.com/+&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 Googles cached version. There isn't much on the site and nothing, so far as I can tell, that's should piss MS off. http://www.google.ca/search?q=cache:FSp2EjIGGqwJ:www.mikerowesoft.com/+&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redman Posted January 19, 2004 Share Posted January 19, 2004 This is about as dumb as Fox getting mad at Al Franken's book title using the "fair and balanced" phrase. Grow up, people! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phat Hog Posted January 19, 2004 Share Posted January 19, 2004 Dirt nap anyone.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaFunky1 Posted January 20, 2004 Share Posted January 20, 2004 I tried to go to his website... I got a forbidden message. Maybe MS contacted his ISP or maybe just too much traffic has shut him down. I tried other pages and got a 404 error. I hope he wins... especially if he is a fat kid or a sissy... soft would work then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboDaMan Posted January 20, 2004 Share Posted January 20, 2004 Originally posted by jbooma If he did this intentionally then MS will have a very good case. Speaking of MS did you hear that Real Network is suing them because they are not charging for their multimedia like Real is doing :laugh: Case for what? I don't think its possible that anyone could arrive at the kid's site with an accidental misspelling, like the people who buy up things like "microsof.com" Once there, nobody is going to mistake it for the real thing. And the kid isn't in the business of selling software. I'm not a lawyer, but I don't see any harm, any loss of competitive advantage, any detriment to Microsoft at all here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NavyDave Posted January 21, 2004 Share Posted January 21, 2004 Wasnt there a victoria's secret lawsuit against a Victor's secret? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tex Posted January 21, 2004 Share Posted January 21, 2004 More volish type mischief. The Vole Can't Stop Itself Like a drunk on a binge, Microsoft can't stop its anticompetitive activities, and remains in denial. Of course it really isn't Microsoft's problem, it's Bill's problem, because he runs the show there, but the result is the same. In Microsoft's latest trip to the Federal Court overseeing their compliance with antitrust laws, Justice Dept. officials claimed that the Windows XP online music shopping feature invokes Internet Explorer, even if the user has a different browser installed. The settlement reached requires MS to allow users to choose which browser to use when shopping for music. Microsoft did not agree that this was a violation of the consent decree (denial!), and said that they were about to change that "feature" anyway. Sure, and Bill is a changed man, who doesn't have to get his way, right? Dr. John http://www.kickassgear.com/News/TodaysNews.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webnarc Posted January 21, 2004 Share Posted January 21, 2004 He has taken the site offline. http://www.globetechnology.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040120.gtmike0120/BNStory/Technology/ VICTORIA — A B.C. teenager who irked Microsoft Corp. with a cheeky Internet domain name has taken down his website, although not because of legal action. Mike Rowe of Victoria had registered his site as www.mikerowesoft.com, but he took it down because too many people were trying to look at it. The high school student and part-time web designer said he couldn't pay for the extra bandwidth to keep his site open to all the traffic. Mr. Rowe, whose story was featured on CNN.com Monday, said a quarter of a million people tried to look at his site in 12 hours. But the 17-year-old wasn't discouraged. All the publicity has generated web design business, and his big adversary in cyberspace was making conciliatory noises on Monday. "It's a good thing but, wow, I never expected it," said Mr. Rowe. "If anything, I'm gaining business. Quite a lot of people want me to do some work," he said. Mr. Rowe received an e-mail from lawyers for the software giant in November asking him to stop using the domain name mikerowesoft.com and a 25-page letter arrived last week with a fat package of supporting materials threatening legal action. The letter said customers of Microsoft could also be confused by his domain name and claimed that Mr. Rowe's intention all along was to extract "a large cash settlement." "It's not their name," Mr. Rowe said on the weekend. "It's my name. I just think it's kind of funny that they'd go after a 17-year-old." Microsoft softened its hard line after the deluge of publicity since Mr. Rowe's plight became public. "We do take our trademark seriously but maybe in this case a little too seriously," said Jim Desler, of Microsoft's corporate communications department at head office in Redmond, Wash. Mr. Desler said the company recognizes the spirit in which the young entrepreneur had registered the domain name and was reconsidering its earlier legal moves. The corporation wanted to resolve the matter soon, he said, and is willing to "circle back" on the issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancalagon the Black Posted January 21, 2004 Share Posted January 21, 2004 Here's an "update," for those of you who remember Microsoft Bob, one of the most misguided interface attempts ever: ___ Microsoft Clarifies Bob Trademark Policies REDMOND, Wash.—January X, XXXX—In response to customer inquiries, Microsoft today clarified the naming policy for Bob™, its new software product designed for computer beginners. Contrary to rumors, Microsoft will not demand that all persons formerly named "Bob" immediately select new first names. "I don't know where these rumors come from," commented Steve Ballmer, Microsoft Executive Vice President for Worldwide Sales and Support. "It's ridiculous to think Microsoft would force people outside the computer industry to change their names. We won't, and our licensing policies for people within the industry will be so reasonable that the Justice Department could never question them." Balmer said employees of other computer companies will be given the opportunity to select new names, and will also be offered a licensing option allowing them to continue using their former names at very low cost. The new licensing program, called Microsoft TrueName™, offers persons who want to continue being known by the name Bob the option of doing so, with the payment of a small monthly licensing fee and upon signing a release form promising never to use OpenDoc. As an added bonus, Bob name licensees will also be authorized to display the Windows 95 logo on their bodies. Persons choosing not to license the Bob name will be given a 60-day grace period during which they can select another related name. "We're being very lenient in our enforcement of the Bob trademark," said Bill Newkom, Microsoft's Senior Vice President of Law and Corporate Affairs. "People are still free to call themselves Robert, Robby, or even Rob. Bobby however is derivative of Microsoft's trademark and obviously can't be allowed." Microsoft also announced today that Bob™ Harbold, its Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, has become the first Microsoft TrueName licensee and will have the Windows 95 logo tattooed to his forehead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Wicked Wop Posted January 21, 2004 Author Share Posted January 21, 2004 Mr. Rowe, whose story was featured on CNN.com Monday, said a quarter of a million people tried to look at his site in 12 hours. Now if he was really smart, he should left the site up, and sold advertising space to Real Networks and Linux.......I'm sure they would have paid a premium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gridironmike Posted January 26, 2004 Share Posted January 26, 2004 Wop, that is the spirit of a true opportunist! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaFunky1 Posted January 27, 2004 Share Posted January 27, 2004 It looks like the kid might have made out after all this mess... http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/story.asp?id=7EDC54B6-19FB-43D0-8692-226487D3EB64 MikeRoweSoft and Microsoft come to terms Steve Berry The Province Sunday, January 25, 2004 Budding web designer and humorist Mike Rowe, 17, of Langford poses for a photograph Friday. CREDIT: Deddeda Stemler, Times Colonist ADVERTISEMENT MikeRoweSoft.com will soon fade from the Internet. Victoria's Mike Rowe, 17, has reached an understanding with Microsoft Corporation that will see him drop his domain name and come up with a new one. In exchange, Microsoft will make sure anyone looking him up on the Net will be redirected to his new site. "We've agreed to pay any out-of-pocket expenses in this process," said Microsoft spokesman Jim Desler Friday. "It is in his best long-term interest to develop his own commercial reputation in his own name." Rowe, a part-time web designer and self-confessed computer geek, registered his MikeRoweSoft.com name in August 2003. In November, he got an e-mail from Microsoft lawyers advising him that he was committing copyright infringement and to transfer his name to Microsoft. A short battle of words ensued and on Friday, Microsoft announced the results. Microsoft has also invited Rowe and his parents to the Microsoft campus in March for an in-house "tech-fest," which shows off new Microsoft products. Describing Rowe as a "bright young man with great potential," Desler said Rowe has also been offered Microsoft certification training and a subscription to a company-sponsored, developer-program website. Rowe was studying for high-school exams Friday and unavailable for comment, but his father, Kim, said his son was pleased with the settlement and could make a formal announcement tomorrow. sberry@png.canwest.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboDaMan Posted January 27, 2004 Share Posted January 27, 2004 Its typical of Microsoft (TM, mustn't forget the trademark, please Bill don't sic the lawyers on me) to react by crushing first, then co-opting when the target escaped destruction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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