Microsoft to sue Mike Rowe Soft

www.yahoo.com/ ^ | Mon Jan 19, 8:05 AM ET | Associated Press

[sociotard]

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."

On the web:

www.mikerowesoft.com

www.microsoft.com

[sociotard]

I'm not actually sure this is real, especially considering the names of the lawyers (Smart and Biggar?). Still, it is on the AP wire. Which doesn't actually make it credible, now that I think about it. Anyway, a quick search on the site said this hadn't been posted earlier. If it is a double post, appologies in advance.

[TheBigB]

Ummmm...what did you search for?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1060925/posts

[js1138]

I'm not actually sure this is real, especially considering the names of the lawyers (Smart and Biggar?).

I've seen a law firm named Wood and Nicholes.

[HardStarboard]

Flap is over. Mike Rowe 'Soft" took his site down because of too many hits....not because, he says, of MSFT.

Hopefully MSFT doesn't continue to pursue him now that it is a moot point.

[longjack]

www.mikerowesoft.com (MikeRoweSoft Design) seems to be back up.

His original ISP couldn't handle the bandwith, 250,000 hits. Another ISP has given him a good offer to host his site, according to the info on the home page

longjack

[WinOne4TheGipper]

http://www.mikerowesoft.com

[sociotard]

Dang! I searched "rowe" and "microsoft". I don't know how I missed it. Do I need to write the moderator and have him delete this one?

[L.N. Smithee]

Sorry. The SCOTUS, in a decision that lets anyone knock off the Monopoly board game, ruled that Parker Brothers let the name "Monopoly" become generic by not aggressively protecting their trademark. They HAVE to come after Rowe.

Mike Rowe is a kid, so he may not be up on American copyright law, but mark my words: He's gonna lose the name, but get millions worth of publicity.

[longjack]

Germany's "Spiegel-Online" had an article about this yesterday. I thought the graphic they used was clever.

'Spiegel-Online'...."Aber das ist doch nun mal mein Name!"

The link is in German.

longjack

[TheBigB]

Prolly not. The Mod will delete it if s/he thinks it should be.

[Viet Vet in Augusta GA]

He will soon change his name to Mike Hunt.

[Only1choice____Freedom]

If Mike Rowe really is soft, I can send him all my Viagra E-mails. Maybe that could help.