Microsoft wants Mikerowesoft.com

[Nomad559]

Microsoft wants Mikerowesoft.com

A Vancouver Island high school student who does Web site design part-time is locked in a legal battle with one of the biggest companies in the world.

Microsoft Corp. of Seattle, currently valued at $300 billion US, wants Mike Rowe to give up www.mikerowesoft.com as his Internet domain name. The company claims copyright infringement of its name.

Through its law firm in Canada, Microsoft has offered him $10 US -- what Rowe paid last August to register the domain.

The 17-year-old Grade 12 student at Belmont High School near Victoria is taking math and chemistry this semester and hopes to study computer science at the University of Victoria next fall.

[rooboy]

1. The kid should sue them for using HIS name. n/t

[JailForBush]

2. That reminds me of the time McDonalds sued some guy in Scotland

for using its name for his business. The man's name was McDonald.

[La_Serpiente]

3. since when did companies start suing over homynyms

n/t

[JailForBush]

4. I just visited his website. That guy is more on the ball than

most American "adults"!

I e-mailed him, too. I might try networking with him if I decide to run for public office again. His site gave me a wicked inspiration. :)

[psychopomp]

5. Check out who MS sicked on 'im

"Smart & Biggar," Microsoft's Canadian lawyer. Then, they offered him a lousy ten bucks.

That cheapness reminds me of the Bill Gates episode on the Simpsons where BG offers to "buy Homer out" after Homer launches a (foulup) tech company.

BG waves some big thugs into the Simpsons' home and says, "Buy him out, boys!" They then smash everything in the place.

Homer says, "but I thought you were going to buy me out!"

Gates says, "I didn't get rich writing a lot of checks, you know!"

classic

[ET Awful]

6. Nissan did the same thing to a small time business. . .

This was the result http://www.nissan.com/

The guy kept the domain (his name is Uzi Nissan, and his business had existed since before Datsun became Nissan in the US), but was forced to change the site to a non-commercial site.

Bullshit if you ask me.

[jimbo fett]

7. Couldn't the people at Singular sue the people at Cingular by this logic?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

10. Cingular isn't a 17yo kid

Bullies only bull those who are much weaker.

[Deja Q]

8. Don't forget Sam Buck's...

Sam Buck, owner of a coffee shop, was sued by Starbucks because of a name similarity.

:eyes:

[ConcernedCanuk]

9. LOL - Microsoft has just given this guy MILLIONS of $$$$$$ of exposure !

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.
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The kid ain't gonna hafta worry 'bout money no more

I "peeked" in on a couple of his "customers" websites,

the "hits" on those other sites are going through the roof

ya know, lotsa other curious "peepers" out here like me

(OH- NO pun on the word freepers - ok ??)

Would be surprised if Mike Rowe's incoming orders for website designs don't increase dramatically !

. :thumbsup: . Go Mike! . :thumbsup: .