| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"stoney" |
| Date: |
02 Apr 2004 09:43:26 AM |
| Object: |
OT: Microsoft lawyers threaten Mike Rowe (17) |
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/34955.html
Microsoft lawyers threaten Mike Rowe (17)
By Kieren McCarthy
Posted: 19/01/2004 at 10:48 GMT
The Register Mobile: Find out what the fuss is about. Take the two week
trial today.
In what could easily be mistaken for an Onion story, Microsoft has
unleashed the full fury of its lawyers on 17-year-old Canadian
high-school student, Mike Rowe, demanding the handover of his Internet
domain.
The domain? MikeRoweSoft.com. No, seriously.
Victoria-based Mike is currently studying maths and chemistry and plans
to study computer science at Victoria University next year. He
registered the domain in August because he thought it would be cool to
have a site that sounded like the famous company to show his Web
designing skills.
The Beast of Redmond however reckons that the phonetic domain infringes
its copyright and insists Mike hand it over or face the consequences.
Mike told us that when an email from Microsoft’s Canadian lawyers Smart
& Biggar arrived on 19 November laying out its complaint, he was “amazed
and appalled”. He replied saying he didn’t want to hand over the domain
and didn’t feel there was any risk it would damage Microsoft’s name.
He then got another email. “They responded to this email by offering to
give me all of my out-of-pocket expenses in return for the domain name.
This came out to be $10; the amount I paid for the domain. This made me
feel insulted. I had spent a lot of time building up my site and I had
only been offered $10 for my work. I responded by asking for $10,000,
which I regret doing now, for my work and domain name.”
As he now knows, Mike had unwittingly slipped into the classic trap set
by companies in order to get hold of domain names - the creation of a
“bad faith” use of the domain. By offering to sell the domain for profit
(even if sparked by the offer of payment by the other party), according
to the bent logic of domain dispute arbitrators, it shows the owner had
no legitimate interest in the domain and so it should be handed over.
Microsoft, with its case bolstered, declined and Mike heard no more
until 14 January when a 25-page letter and book were Fed-Ex’ed to his
house explaining why he would have to hand over the domain, stating he
had intended all along to sell the domain for profit and that his domain
would confuse Microsoft customers.
“I decided to go to the press when I received the package from the
lawyers’ office. I thought people would be interested in my story and I
wanted to know what people had to say about the situation I am in. There
is really nothing I can do to push or fight this except for telling
people how things are going with the whole situation. The domain dispute
is in the hands of the WIPO at the moment so I have no control over what
happens to my domain name.”
Can Microsoft really be attempting to take a phonetic-sounding domain
name? Well, Mike is reassuringly candid and although we have not seen
Microsoft’s letter and the company has yet to confirm or deny its
threats are real, it seems to hang together. Unless Mike is a first-rate
hoaxer, it would appear that Microsoft really has lost the plot and is
trying to extend the already flawed domain dispute rules into hitherto
unexplored territory.
By making the situation public though, Mike tells us he has been
bolstered. “After going to the press, I have realised that I should
stick it out till the end. After the massive amount of support I have
received from people across the globe I am motivated to stick with what
I believe in.”
And so he should. It would seem Microsoft has no choice but to back down
as, legally, it doesn’t have a hope in hell of winning and there are
plenty of lawyers out there who would love to get a win against
Microsoft under their belt.
Mike doesn’t quite know what to make of it all: “I can’t say I have ever
been in a more surreal situation than this. It has all been quite
overwhelming really. I don’t know what to say about it, I have just been
going with the flow.” ®
http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/internet/01/26/mikerowesoft.settle.ap/
Microsoft to take over MikeRoweSoft.com
Teen settles with tech giant for, among other things, an Xbox
SEATTLE, Washington (AP) --A Canadian teenager whose Web site address
bothered a certain giant software company will find a new home on the
Web, Microsoft Corp. said Friday.
Mike Rowe, a 17-year-old resident of Victoria, British Columbia, has
agreed to pick a new name for his Web site, currently called
www.mikerowesoft.com, said Microsoft spokesman Jim Desler.
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 Web site, his
father said.
Desler said Microsoft would cover Mike's costs of changing to a new Web
site 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.
"We wanted to do this in a way that's going to foster his interest in
technology," Desler said.
In a posting on his Web site 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."
Copyright 2004 The Associated Press
Stoney
"Designated Rascal and Rapscallion
and
SCAMPERMEISTER!"
When in doubt, SCAMPER about!
When things are fair, SCAMPER everywhere!
When things are rough, can't SCAMPER enough!
/end humour alert
alt.atheism military veteran #11
{so much for the 'no atheists in foxholes' rubbish}
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| User: "Michael Howard" |
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| Title: Re: OT: Microsoft lawyers threaten Mike Rowe (17) |
02 Apr 2004 10:14:01 AM |
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On Fri, 02 Apr 2004 07:43:26 -0800, stoney <stoney@the.net> done said:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/34955.html
Microsoft lawyers threaten Mike Rowe (17)
By Kieren McCarthy
Posted: 19/01/2004 at 10:48 GMT
The Register Mobile: Find out what the fuss is about. Take the two week
trial today.
In what could easily be mistaken for an Onion story, Microsoft has
unleashed the full fury of its lawyers on 17-year-old Canadian
high-school student, Mike Rowe, demanding the handover of his Internet
domain.
The domain? MikeRoweSoft.com. No, seriously.
<snip>
Actually, I think this has been resolved. Microsoft backed off.
David wins. Again.
-----------------------------------
mike
"I believe the children are our future. That is why, ultimately, we're screwed unless we do something about it."
The Mud and Mayhem Society
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| User: "Mark K. Bilbo" |
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| Title: Re: OT: Microsoft lawyers threaten Mike Rowe (17) |
02 Apr 2004 04:12:30 PM |
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On Fri, 02 Apr 2004 08:14:01 -0800 in episode
<e64r609lse2t6ja1vlr8cd46go0i7nill0@4ax.com> we saw our hero Michael
Howard <nospam.removethis.mr_elpollodiablo@msn.com>:
On Fri, 02 Apr 2004 07:43:26 -0800, stoney <stoney@the.net> done said:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/34955.html
Microsoft lawyers threaten Mike Rowe (17) By Kieren McCarthy Posted:
19/01/2004 at 10:48 GMT
The Register Mobile: Find out what the fuss is about. Take the two week
trial today.
In what could easily be mistaken for an Onion story, Microsoft has
unleashed the full fury of its lawyers on 17-year-old Canadian
high-school student, Mike Rowe, demanding the handover of his Internet
domain.
The domain? MikeRoweSoft.com. No, seriously.
<snip>
Actually, I think this has been resolved. Microsoft backed off.
David wins. Again.
Only because he gave MS the domain.
"But far from Microsoft being hauled over the coals for sending
threatening letters to minors over websites it has no legitimate rights
to, its lawyers have persuaded the Rowe family to sign over the domain
and, we can only assume, put their names to a confidentiality contract
which means they won't talk about the deal. Mike, who was previously very
helpful and swift in response to our questions has not replied to queries
over the deal, sent three days ago."
At: http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/archive/35113.html
--
Mark K. Bilbo - a.a. #1423
EAC Department of Linguistic Subversion
"Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism,
because it is a merger of State and corporate power."
- Mussolini
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| User: "stoney" |
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| Title: Re: OT: Microsoft lawyers threaten Mike Rowe (17) |
03 Apr 2004 01:33:29 PM |
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On Fri, 02 Apr 2004 08:14:01 -0800, Michael Howard
<nospam.removethis.mr_elpollodiablo@msn.com>, Message ID:
<e64r609lse2t6ja1vlr8cd46go0i7nill0@4ax.com> wrote in alt.atheism;
On Fri, 02 Apr 2004 07:43:26 -0800, stoney <stoney@the.net> done said:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/34955.html
Microsoft lawyers threaten Mike Rowe (17)
By Kieren McCarthy
Posted: 19/01/2004 at 10:48 GMT
The Register Mobile: Find out what the fuss is about. Take the two week
trial today.
In what could easily be mistaken for an Onion story, Microsoft has
unleashed the full fury of its lawyers on 17-year-old Canadian
high-school student, Mike Rowe, demanding the handover of his Internet
domain.
The domain? MikeRoweSoft.com. No, seriously.
<snip>
Actually, I think this has been resolved. Microsoft backed off.
That it was resolved was in the section of my post you snipped.
Stoney
"Designated Rascal and Rapscallion
and
SCAMPERMEISTER!"
When in doubt, SCAMPER about!
When things are fair, SCAMPER everywhere!
When things are rough, can't SCAMPER enough!
/end humour alert
alt.atheism military veteran #11
{so much for the 'no atheists in foxholes' rubbish}
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| User: "Ash" |
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| Title: Re: OT: Microsoft lawyers threaten Mike Rowe (17) |
03 Apr 2004 04:04:03 PM |
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stoney wrote:
On Fri, 02 Apr 2004 08:14:01 -0800, Michael Howard
<nospam.removethis.mr_elpollodiablo@msn.com>, Message ID:
<e64r609lse2t6ja1vlr8cd46go0i7nill0@4ax.com> wrote in alt.atheism;
On Fri, 02 Apr 2004 07:43:26 -0800, stoney <stoney@the.net> done said:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/34955.html
Microsoft lawyers threaten Mike Rowe (17)
By Kieren McCarthy
Posted: 19/01/2004 at 10:48 GMT
The Register Mobile: Find out what the fuss is about. Take the two week
trial today.
In what could easily be mistaken for an Onion story, Microsoft has
unleashed the full fury of its lawyers on 17-year-old Canadian
high-school student, Mike Rowe, demanding the handover of his Internet
domain.
The domain? MikeRoweSoft.com. No, seriously.
<snip>
Actually, I think this has been resolved. Microsoft backed off.
That it was resolved was in the section of my post you snipped.
Really? The impression I got was that he gave up the name and they gave
a token payment to enable him to move to a fresh domain
--
#1636
Not BAAWA
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| User: "Prove It.." |
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| Title: Re: OT: Microsoft lawyers threaten Mike Rowe (17) |
02 Apr 2004 12:38:04 PM |
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stoney wrote:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/34955.html
Microsoft lawyers threaten Mike Rowe (17)
By Kieren McCarthy
Posted: 19/01/2004 at 10:48 GMT
The Register Mobile: Find out what the fuss is about. Take the two week
trial today.
In what could easily be mistaken for an Onion story, Microsoft has
unleashed the full fury of its lawyers on 17-year-old Canadian
high-school student, Mike Rowe, demanding the handover of his Internet
domain.
The domain? MikeRoweSoft.com. No, seriously.
Victoria-based Mike is currently studying maths and chemistry and plans
to study computer science at Victoria University next year. He
registered the domain in August because he thought it would be cool to
have a site that sounded like the famous company to show his Web
designing skills.
<snip>
Oh please! Microsoft always goes way to far. Just like taking on
Lindows. I can't wait till they get their a$$es handed to them.
Prove It... aa# 1935
--
As I learn, I know about more things I don't yet know.
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