MikeRowesoft update - GoFuckYourself.com

Rictor · 01-20-2004, 10:52 PM

Microsoft: We took MikeRoweSoft too seriously

By Munir Kotadia
ZDNet (UK)
January 20, 2004, 9:30 AM PT

Microsoft says it may have been overaggressive in threatening Web entrepreneur Mike Rowe over the name of his Web site, Mikerowesoft.com.
Rowe, a 17-year-old student from Vancouver, British Columbia, registered Mikerowesoft.com to front his part-time Web site design business in August 2003. Three months later, he received an e-mail from Microsoft's lawyers, asking him to transfer the domain name to Microsoft. They offered to pay him a "settlement" of $10, which is the cost of his original registration fee.

However, after the case received widespread coverage on the Internet, Microsoft acknowledged that it may have taken things too far and promised to treat Rowe fairly. A representative of the software company told ZDNet UK: "We appreciate that Mike Rowe is a young entrepreneur who came up with a creative domain name. We take our trademark seriously, but maybe a little too seriously in this case."

Under the law, Microsoft is required to take action to protect its trademark against widespread infringement. Struan Robertson, editor of Out-Law.com, a Web site that covers legal issues affecting information technology, explained that if a holder does not take action to protect its trademark whenever it is aware of a potential infringement, it risks losing that protection.

Robertson gives Hoover as an example of a trademark that has become a generic word for vacuum cleaning: "If you or I talk about hoovering our house, that is not an issue, but if Electrolux talks about hoovering, that is an issue," he said.

According to Robertson, Rowe may have a good argument for keeping the domain name, because it is his real name, and he isn't pretending to be affiliated with Microsoft. But he said Microsoft probably regrets getting involved with the case because of all the bad publicity it has generated.

"It is probably a very trivial issue for Microsoft, and I wouldn't be surprised if they regret getting involved with it. Microsoft may be prepared to pay him some money to make this go away, because this is not the kind of publicity that Microsoft wants to attract," added Robertson.

Microsoft hopes to resolve the problem in a way that is agreeable to both parties: "We are currently in the process of resolving this matter in a way that will be fair to him and satisfy our obligations under trademark law," the representative said.

Rictor · 01-20-2004, 10:53 PM

Original thread here:

http://www.gofuckyourself.com/showth...ht=mike+r owe

421Fill · 01-20-2004, 10:56 PM

that was fast. lol

SlickNixxx · 01-20-2004, 11:00 PM

if i was bill gates

the good guy gates is

i'd donate some $$$ into the kids business

to startup a bigger company

Spunky · 01-20-2004, 11:03 PM

I think all he wanted was 1 k anyways.. He probably made way more than that with donations to fight Microsoft

<IMX> · 01-20-2004, 11:06 PM

It's funny b/c name doesn't matter when you are going up against a trademarked company.

http://www.nissan.com/

You could wind you like this poor sod, who actually held a trademark for Nissan computers, whose name is "Uzi Nissan;" yet was still fucked in court.

acctman · 01-20-2004, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SlickNixxx
if i was bill gates

the good guy gates is

i'd donate some $$$ into the kids business

to startup a bigger company

umm no, come on any fool knows the name sounds like Microsoft even if its spelled differently. so then i can go start a company and message board called GoFukurSelf Inc. or a banking serviced called CityBank and hope Citibank doesn't try to take my name. who cares if he's a kid or not, he's in the wrong and he more than likely new it, why would he put the "soft" on the end. he's a web design not a software company. he did it on purpose... give him $10 damn lamer.

sue the fucker. Viva la Microsoft

hwood · 02-16-2004, 07:14 AM

Could be a good payout if you do it right though....

Maximillion · 02-16-2004, 08:56 AM

Damn Nissas.com got fucked? I remember hearing about that a while ago, can't believe the car company won

01-20-2004, 10:52 PM	#1
Rictor Old Timer Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 12,208	MikeRowesoft update Microsoft: We took MikeRoweSoft too seriously By Munir Kotadia ZDNet (UK) January 20, 2004, 9:30 AM PT Microsoft says it may have been overaggressive in threatening Web entrepreneur Mike Rowe over the name of his Web site, Mikerowesoft.com. Rowe, a 17-year-old student from Vancouver, British Columbia, registered Mikerowesoft.com to front his part-time Web site design business in August 2003. Three months later, he received an e-mail from Microsoft's lawyers, asking him to transfer the domain name to Microsoft. They offered to pay him a "settlement" of $10, which is the cost of his original registration fee. However, after the case received widespread coverage on the Internet, Microsoft acknowledged that it may have taken things too far and promised to treat Rowe fairly. A representative of the software company told ZDNet UK: "We appreciate that Mike Rowe is a young entrepreneur who came up with a creative domain name. We take our trademark seriously, but maybe a little too seriously in this case." Under the law, Microsoft is required to take action to protect its trademark against widespread infringement. Struan Robertson, editor of Out-Law.com, a Web site that covers legal issues affecting information technology, explained that if a holder does not take action to protect its trademark whenever it is aware of a potential infringement, it risks losing that protection. Robertson gives Hoover as an example of a trademark that has become a generic word for vacuum cleaning: "If you or I talk about hoovering our house, that is not an issue, but if Electrolux talks about hoovering, that is an issue," he said. According to Robertson, Rowe may have a good argument for keeping the domain name, because it is his real name, and he isn't pretending to be affiliated with Microsoft. But he said Microsoft probably regrets getting involved with the case because of all the bad publicity it has generated. "It is probably a very trivial issue for Microsoft, and I wouldn't be surprised if they regret getting involved with it. Microsoft may be prepared to pay him some money to make this go away, because this is not the kind of publicity that Microsoft wants to attract," added Robertson. Microsoft hopes to resolve the problem in a way that is agreeable to both parties: "We are currently in the process of resolving this matter in a way that will be fair to him and satisfy our obligations under trademark law," the representative said.

01-20-2004, 10:56 PM	#3
421Fill Super Mario Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Swenson's Avatar Posts: 19,607	that was fast. lol __________________ RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES!!!

01-20-2004, 11:00 PM	#4
SlickNixxx Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: C or PHP Book Posts: 73	if i was bill gates the good guy gates is i'd donate some $$$ into the kids business to startup a bigger company __________________ Programming the world!

01-20-2004, 11:03 PM	#5
Spunky I need a beer Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: ♠ Toiletville ♠ Posts: 133,949	I think all he wanted was 1 k anyways.. He probably made way more than that with donations to fight Microsoft __________________ *YOUR INFORMATION HERE*

01-20-2004, 11:06 PM	#6
<IMX> Confirmed User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 2,728	It's funny b/c name doesn't matter when you are going up against a trademarked company. http://www.nissan.com/ You could wind you like this poor sod, who actually held a trademark for Nissan computers, whose name is "Uzi Nissan;" yet was still fucked in court. __________________ $$$ Check out NICHE PAY the leader of Micro Niche Sites! They offer $1 Trials! $$$ $$$ Check out 10 FREE TRIAL SALES equals 1 FREE LAP TOP ! $$$

01-20-2004, 10:53 PM	#2
Rictor Old Timer Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 12,208	Original thread here: http://www.gofuckyourself.com/showth...ht=mike+r owe

02-16-2004, 07:14 AM	#8
hwood Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Atlanta Posts: 332	Could be a good payout if you do it right though.... __________________ Check out My Black XXX sites

02-16-2004, 08:56 AM	#9
Maximillion Confirmed User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: scrooge mcducks money bin Posts: 795	Damn Nissas.com got fucked? I remember hearing about that a while ago, can't believe the car company won __________________ Only $600 bucks for this premium domain: email maximillion76 -at- gmail (Not to be confused with Topbucks' "AllGayRealityPass.com")