HotShot 0 Posted January 22, 2004 On the ONS forums saw this... [b said: Quote[/b] ]A 17 year old website designer named Mike Rowe who is being sued by Microsoft because of his domain name: www.mikerowesoft.com . After offering him the measly sum of $10 U.S. , Mike demanded $10000, for the cost of the site and all the work he put into it. Microsoft hired lawyers to sue him, claiming he is purposely misleading potential customers into thinking he is a Microsoft service or product or something. www.mikerowesoft.com This is like this Gym Company whos sueing a client who refused to pay for her membership after she got cancer and was un able to use the Gym. She said she got a VERBAL statemnt that she wouldn't have to pay her fees if her cancer got worse. Anyway unfortunatly she lost, ahd to pay the Å300 or so it cost, plus i assume all the legal costs (the Gym Lawyers were even trying to get her to pay their traveling costs! This women's about to die and they want traveling costs?!). But this is similar cause the amount of bad publicity they're getting from this case will put them out of pocket more then if they had just left the guy alone. The same goes for this Women, as the Gym's name has now been recked. [b said: Quote[/b] ]My site this morning went down because of the massive amounts of visitors coming to my site. 250000 to be exact. 250,000 people seeing this, a few of them have got to turn against MS because of this and so not buy a product from them they may have otherwise; where as if MS had left him alone, how much would they have lost? Well i should think 0. Dont think this has been posted before, nothing in the search. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EiZei 0 Posted January 22, 2004 I wonder, do the big software company lawyers get paid according to the amount of lawsuits filed or is there any particular reason why they are so overly zealous about trademarks? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
joltan 0 Posted January 22, 2004 According to an newsarticle Microsoft's lawyers are already paddeling back and taking a much more cautious approach to the issue now... seems like the public uproar that went through the press worldwide (first articles appeared 2-3 days ago in many online newspapers) made them think twice about this issues impact on M$ public image. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ironsight 1 Posted January 22, 2004 Why does microsoft have to ruin this site, it doesn't even comes close to the microsoft name (at least the site does get a lot of publicity ) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nathanz 0 Posted January 22, 2004 I remember seeing that guy post on some forums (think it was the rage3d) asking for help because microsoft wanted him to takes his website down. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dauragon 0 Posted January 22, 2004 So its a simple dude like anyone of us vs the International Corporation of Microsoft ? who's gonna win Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GoOB 0 Posted January 22, 2004 This is a whole lot similar to "Aboslut vodka" and their constant control over the word "Absolut" they are manical about it since that word is what makes their product stand out at first glance. And the word being used in other circumstances might "damage" the product recognizing. There was a show here in Sweden a while back called "Absolut Fredag" (Absolutley Friday) this show had to shut down due to complaints from said liqour company. The same with an Australian beachwear company, called "Absolut beach" wich had to shut down for the same reason. Complaints from the company. Very silly but apparently not to the company in question... And by the way, how dumb does Microsoft think their customers are? Affiliating Mikerowsoft directly with Microsoft? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Acecombat 0 Posted January 22, 2004 Let me guess who has the most money and influence Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WhoCares 0 Posted January 22, 2004 It is just to protect innocent people. Imagine someone vocally(!) praises MikeRoweSoft - nobody would take him serious anymore Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ralphwiggum 6 Posted January 22, 2004 (GoOB @ Jan. 22 2004,16:15) said: And by the way, how dumb does Microsoft think their customers are? Affiliating Mikerowsoft directly with Microsoft? you'd be surprised. I'm actually surprised that MS lawyers are working on this kind of thing. must be really bored. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites