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It's Mike Rowe, 17, vs. giant Microsoft! | |
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| Time: 10:06 EST/15:06 GMT | News Source: Canada.com | Posted By: Byron Hinson | ||
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Like any good fledgling businessman, Mike Rowe knew he needed a catchy name for his website design company. And being possessed of a sense of humour and the cheekiness of a typical 17-year-old, and given his name, what better than to register his Internet domain name as mikerowesoft.com? |
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Read Only Comments Return to News |
Displaying Comments 1 through 10 of 10 |
This is an archived static copy of ActiveWin.com. |
| #1 By 1845 (67.161.212.73) at Sunday, January 18, 2004 01:24:09 PM |
| Lol! |
| #2 By 12071 (203.185.215.149) at Sunday, January 18, 2004 06:18:53 PM |
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"He wrote back saying he'd put a lot of time and effort into his business and asked to be compensated if he was to give up his name.
Microsoft's lawyers wrote back offering him $10 US. Rowe asked for $1,000. And then, on Jan. 14, he received an ominous, 2.5-centimetre-thick package with a 25-page letter accusing him of trying to force Microsoft into giving him a large settlement for his name." $1,000 is a large settlement? Maybe Microsoft should sue Mike's parents as well! How dare they name their son Mike when they should have known that Mike Rowe with the addition of soft is such an "obvious" copyright infringement. $10? I'd laugh that offer off too! |
| #3 By 11888 (64.230.68.199) at Sunday, January 18, 2004 08:03:39 PM |
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Has anybody noticed that he's a "self-described computer gook" according to the article?
I check m-w.com: Main Entry: gook Pronunciation: 'gük Function: noun Etymology: origin unknown Date: 1935 usually disparaging : a nonwhite or non-American person;specifically : ASIAN What a terrible mistake. |
| #4 By 2 (67.165.97.4) at Sunday, January 18, 2004 08:53:18 PM |
| Why? Microsoft told me to name my price when offering to buy activewindows.com....I shouldn't have been so nieve ;-) |
| #5 By 12071 (203.185.215.149) at Sunday, January 18, 2004 10:04:44 PM |
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#4 "Two wrongs don't make a right and it looks to me that everyone involved has done something stupid here."
What did Mike do wrong? Sure even though he's only 17 there's little doubt that he knew that creating such a domain might cause problems, but what gives Microsoft the right to take www.MikeRoweSoft.com off him and blow him off with a measly $10US? Most people would be insulted, let alone someone who is only 17! His reaction at the $10US offer is that typical of any 17 year old! His website has no affiliation to Microsoft Corp. nor is trying to benefit off Microsoft's name. Microsoft don't instantly own "Microsoft" and every single variation of characters which, when pronounced, sound similar to "Microsoft"! |
| #6 By 2332 (65.221.182.2) at Monday, January 19, 2004 12:16:02 AM |
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Come on guys. This kid knew exactly what he was doing when he registered the domain name. He should realize that he made a mistake and give up the domain name.
For him to try and extort money out of Microsoft shows his youth and ignorance. He should quit while he is only a little behind. ($10 bucks for the domain registration.) |
| #7 By 12071 (203.185.215.149) at Monday, January 19, 2004 12:33:05 AM |
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#9 So you're telling me that "customers" are going to confuse Microsoft Corp. and MikeRoweSoft? What's Mike Rowe selling again for there to be confusion over? He's selling a service to design a website for you - will you as a customer confuse that with Microsoft Corp?
#10 Of course he knew, he more than likely thought it would be funny to tell everyone that he owns MikeRoweSoft.com, but that doesn't mean that he isn't allowed to own MikeRoweSoft.com, unless of course he is infringing on their trademark and I can't see any infringment there, I've seen his site. What's funny is Microsoft firstly offering him $10US (I mean, why bother!) and then producing a 25 page letter basically accusing him of extortion! |
| #8 By 1845 (67.161.212.73) at Monday, January 19, 2004 01:27:54 AM |
| Here, here, RMD! |
| #9 By 2960 (156.80.64.137) at Monday, January 19, 2004 09:06:06 AM |
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I only have one question...
"Where have we gone today" when you can't even use your OWN name in something without some large corporation hitting you over the head with a handful of lawyers? I mean, really. How far can this be allowed to go ? TL |
| #10 By 5912 (82.74.70.225) at Monday, January 19, 2004 12:11:38 PM |
| Microsoft's lawyers have got WAY too much time on their hands. |
