posted on January 20, 2004 12:12:19 AM new
Microsoft Takes on Teen Over Web Site
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) - 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.''
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on January 20, 2004 02:58:32 AM new
Fenix, thats a cute story. Why should he back down if his name is indeed Mike Rowe?
But I bet those MS Lawyers have to show something for their time making 300 grand a year!
posted on January 21, 2004 05:25:46 AM new
He may have known what he was doing. But how can you stop somebody from using their own legal name and adding a soft to it?
You could be tadpole-twelve-soft if you wanted to be.
Somebody on the news said, going up against MS you might find yourself and your whole family 'deleted' lol. The kid is 17 for cripes sakes. What was bill gates doing tooling round on his computer at 17?
posted on January 21, 2004 05:42:47 AM new
It was not an "honest" mistake and he even said he knew it... said it before and will say it again slam his canuck ass...
posted on January 21, 2004 06:12:24 AM new
Slam his azz for what, twelve?
For using his name and a word like soft.
Soft is one of those words, like "Easy", "Free" (easy-listening, fat-free)- on and on and on - everyone is using. They cant lay a law suit on him claiming he can't attach that to his name!!!
MS has got more money than God and they got bigger and better ducks to fry!
posted on January 21, 2004 07:45:40 AM newIF He hadn't known before hand, but he eve said he did it in purpose.... MS has a right to protect their name...
posted on January 21, 2004 08:44:33 AM new
They interviewed Mike Rowe on TV last night and he seems like a nice kid who is trying to concentrate on passing his exams next week.
From the report:
Microsoft, too, seemed eager to discuss their differences.
"We take our trademark seriously, but in this case maybe a little too seriously," Microsoft spokesperson Jim Desler told Reuters.
"We appreciate that Mike Rowe is a young entrepreneur who came up with a creative domain name, so we're currently in the process of resolving this matter in a way that will be fair to him and satisfy our obligations under trademark law."
In light of the software company's initial offer of $10 US for the now-famous name, Rowe has said he'd rather get $10,000 for the trouble.
posted on January 21, 2004 10:07:23 AM new
I can understand objecting to use that is trying to mislead people as to your identity.
But some of these companies come close to thinking they own the language itself.
It would not surprise me if they tried to ban all use of the prefix micro as a theft.
Everyone making microwaves would have to start printing their ads for itty -bitty waves.
posted on January 22, 2004 03:10:44 AM new
I don't know - he has used the same template on every one of his sites. His photoshop skills don't suck though .
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on January 22, 2004 05:30:46 PM new
If you look around their website, you'll find some records of the case and the court's decisions...MicroSloth has yet to beat them....
posted on January 28, 2004 12:51:55 PM newAssociated Press Jan. 26, 2004
Mike Rowe, a 17-year-old resident of Victoria, British Columbia, has agreed to pick a new name for his website, currently called www.mikerowesoft.com, said Microsoft spokesman Jim Desler on Friday.
Mike's father, Kim Rowe, confirmed that his son had struck an agreement with Microsoft. Rowe said his son could not be interviewed Friday because he had to study for final exams.
Mike also is working feverishly to put together a new website, his father said.
Desler said Microsoft would cover Mike's costs of changing to a new website and redirecting traffic from the old site. Microsoft also had agreed to help the teen get Microsoft certification training and other gifts, including an Xbox game console, he said, and has invited Mike to a technology festival in March at the corporation's headquarters in suburban Redmond, Washington.
"We wanted to do this in a way that's going to foster his interest in technology," Desler said.
In a posting on his website earlier this month, the teen said he received a 25-page letter from Microsoft informing him he was committing copyright infringement, and threatening legal action.
Desler said Friday that Microsoft believes it's important to take steps to prevent widespread infringement of its name. But he conceded Microsoft's original approach was "admittedly maybe impersonal."
This guy has duplicated the Microsoft color and site appearance...unlike the case in your article and the first two links related to that article.
[ edited by Helenjw on Jan 28, 2004 01:50 PM ]
also, it looks like he's going to settle with a lot more outta this..
eh. I guess good for him. or something. whatever. they went overboard on this and they're now going have to pay him a lil.. but whats a few thousand for protecting your name.
[ edited by capyoda on Jan 28, 2004 03:48 PM ]
posted on March 24, 2004 08:08:36 AM new
Just an update here.
The other day Mike Rowe presented a $7000 check to Vancouver Canuck Place, a children's hospice.
"This donation is from the "legal defence fund" I was gratefully provided from scores of people around the globe when it appeared that this may be needed in my case against Microsoft. Fortunately, things were settled amicably and to the satisfaction of both Microsoft and I, and these funds were not needed. As I had no intention of accepting this money if not needed, I decided to donate most of it to a charity. Being a long time Vancouver Canucks fan, and seeing the excellent work Canuck Place does for those in much more need than I, the choice was clear and the decision was made to donate these funds to this organization on behalf of me and all of the others who donated. I was very happy to have received the support I did and I want to thank all of those who helped me and who now, in turn, are helping others once again."
.