Software giant threatens mikerowesoft

Honestly, Microsoft must be developing paranoid schizophrenic tendencies if they think *anyone* could mistake this kid's website for Microsoft's. Somebody in the MS tech R&D division should implant sense of humor modules in their lawyers.

mikerowesoft.com should stay with the kid as his name is within the URL. I doubt the kid spent $10,000 on the site and should be a little less conservative with the selling price.

Really, doesn't Microsoft have anything better to do than threaten would-be programmers? You'd think they'd find it a compliment. They can't seriously believe he's a market threat. Obviously choosing your Name + Career for a domain makes sense - if you can make it a funny, memorable pun on the biggest giant in the business, then more power to you.

Honestly, the more I learn about Microsoft, the more I look for alternative software.

If Microsoft believes their customers will be confused by the existence of mikerowesoft.com, then they hold an extremely dim view of their customer's intelligence.

I guess I'd better take my angelsoft.com site down before I'm taken to court by the toilet paper cartel.

The kid should have known better. When you register a domain, you are told that if you infringe (even the slightest) on a trademark your domain may be removed. The courts have long held that names which SOUND like a registered name infringe on the owner.

Mike Rowe could have chosen Rowesoft or Mikesoft and not had the problem.

The article also fails to mention what software the individual writes. If he doesn't have a large established business base than the cost for him to change should be small.

I've had a small business and NEVER printed up $10,000 of stationary. That is crazy. You buy $100 or $250 and make sure that your business will suceed before spending $10,000.

Another Microsoft enemny means another force to help take them down a notch.

I hope this proves to be a Public Relations nightmare for Microsuck and they realize that if a heavy handed company just like them were around when Gates started MS, they would not be in existance.

Looks like the devil, smells like the devil, acts like the devil, must be......

Microsoft thinks it will confuse customers? I'm a customer, and I find this statement really insulting to my intellegence. Nice. Get a life Microsoft.

Not only is Microsoft a bully, they are cheap to go along with it.....

They should change their name (to avoid mis-representing themselves of course).... how about Microsteal, Microswap, or Microminded.

I can't tell you HOW many times I have mistakenly spelled "Microsoft" "Mikerowesoft". For the longest time I thought that the maker of my Office product was some guy in Vancouver.

I often send my extra cash to the maker of my OS and my favorite toolset, Office. Much to my consternation, I have now discovered that I have been sending my extra cash to Mike Rowe rather than to Bill Gates. Ohmygosh.

I wonder if I can get a refund???

Microsoft really needs to get a life...

The lawsuit should be extended to the kid's parents for using a similar name to "MIcro" in "Microsoft".

Microsoft was founded 28 years old, the kid is just 17

In fact, Microsoft should trademark it's founder's name and sue everyone named William.

I think if Microsoft wants the domain name they should have to pay Mike Rowe what he wants for it. Microsoft should have planned better for domain name conflicts and if they missed this one, then it's too bad for them. You can't penalize entrepreneurs for being savvy.

Mike Rowe should considerUpping the price to 100,000 just for Microsoft's Arrogance. Maybe ms should have bought his name in anticipation of a possible "infringement", perhaps they should buy all names that sound like theirs, instead of waiting for someone to use the name, then demand that they hand it over. Hope Mike Rowe makes them spend a fortune on legal fees to get their way. Anyway, from my experience, Microsoft products are so clunky and flawed, why would the guy want his name associated with them. Their lawyers must be bored.

I say kill the kid !
Hey, it's confusing enough for non-English readers, I keep spelling it Microshyte....for some strange reason

Have all the other phonetic variations, such as mycrowsoft.com, been taken? How about bombarding MS with them to keep their lawyers hopping? We outnumber their lawyers and should take adventage of that fact.

Breaking News...CNN threatens seenn.com with copyright infringement....

What a bunch of power trippin' paranoid idiots. Thats my personal opinion of course, and if M$ want to sue me they can contact me at billgatesisatosser@hotmail.com

Have a nice day
:)

What a bunch of cheapskates!. It probably cost MS $10000 to write the 25 page letter! I don't think I could confused an hard working kid with a greedy corporate tycoon!

Headline Risk! When will corporations learn that at times its better to let these cases go than risk having headlines about it. Even if Microsoft wins the case, what they lose in bad PR is not worth it.

This is f-ing sad. I bet f I registered www.fullofbugs.com MS would come after me too, claiming that consumers might get misled because only Microsoft products are full of bugs. Losers.....

Way too little, you demand Micro( meaning very small) soft( in the head) $50,000.
Up the ante, if they want this to go away,
it will with $50,000. Hang in there they cant
hurt you, cant do too much to you, good luck.

Microsoft shouldnt be bothering about small 'companys' like that, they should be spending more time developing better programs with more reliable technology.

I think Mike Rowe has cause for civil damages.

Microsoft has said that Mike purposefully registered his domain in order to sell it to Microsoft for a large amount of cash.

That's slander in anyone's law court. Legal actions like this are public records and therefore Microsoft made these allegations in public.

If I was Mike Rowe's parent I'd hit Microsoft with a defamation suit. Damages? His future earnings are compromised for the rest of his life. Who knows how this will affect him?

this is shame to microsoft, i just cant belive.

Listen all Mike's you will have soon have to change your name

Is it realy average Microsoft customer so stupid?
What part of stupidity epidemic could be blamed on brain washing policy of microsoft.
Hiding real software structures under "decorations"

It is excuse it is esier the efect is overhelming confiusion spreaded by M$
They just cach own tail

I wishh mike hold ON.

Should M$ not be focusing its energy on preparing for the future market instead of a 17-year old boy with a funny domain name?

if microsoft is so concerned about the public's inability to recognize the spelling difference (after all these years that microsoft has given to advertising its products) we are truly a nation of idiots where the dumbing down of america persists. an explanation @best that presupposes microsoft's overinflated ego, but i think microsoft is still peeved that it had to pay millions to sun because it stole far more than mr. rowe has been accused and they're taking it out on the kid; i say put the kid on the microsoft payroll and be done with it. microsoft has had to buy, copy and steal its way to acheive dominance. mike rowe has actually flattered microsoft by his 'alleged mimicry' of them.

lol God Love Microsoft they just sue people for the hell of it, That's Corporate America for you! But Seriously Bill Cut down on it how the heck will people confuse MikeRowe with Micro?

Hmm maybe I should register mikrosoft.com. I could even have a business called that for twelve more.

I think Microsoft is getting a little more humane in its pursuit of "imitators." Britain's Mike Rowe obviously was trying to use his legal right to incorporate his name into his business venture, which Microsoft is trying to stifle. No big deal here; S. O. S. Same Old Story....

However, MS didn't thrteaten Mr. Rowe with its usual draconian measures and lawsuits, if he didn't sign over his domain, etc. to them. That's a great improvement, on the part of MS. Then, too, Mike is a non-American, and therefore, not quite as reachable by our sometimes freakishly quirky legal system.

My money is on Mike Rowe, since he didn't try to rip off MS for a freakishly exorbitant amount of money. $10K is too much, perhaps, but not a lot too much. I'm sure MS could shell out that much from their office coffe pot fund, and not have to do without their Starbuck's for even a single day....

Meanwhile, Mike Rowe just made his first $10K! Way to go, Mike!

For God's sake, Microsoft, leave the guy alone!
You already own half the galaxy. Go do something useful with your resources.

Shame on you!

I think that Mike Rowe and his web host have a DEFINITE case for a lawsuit. If it weren't for Micro$oft's actions then his website wouldn't have been hammered into 404-land.

As a result of their actions, they have caused his website to be down, which could potentially lead to lost business, not to mention the strain put on the servers at his ISP.

Hell, if M$ wants to play the lawsuit game, let's get everyone involved. Otherwise, I think Billy needs to just have a cup of cocoa and chill out. This kid is just trying to run his business - what's wrong with that?

Give 'em hell, Mike!

Microsoft must have lost their minds. Geez....hang it up Bill. This is legally this guys domain name and I, for one, am not confused between a billlion dollar software monopoly and a 17 year old programmer.

*sarcasm*
Now you know this kid is a real threat; he’s 17 and a software writer, which could prove to be a threat to Microsoft down the line. No need to let this get out of hand now, put him in his place, bitch slap him a little now before he decides to do something that might help advance software technology. We can’t have any of that; there is no room for any other OS software company besides Microsoft. The Big bully is watching….

Pretty sad to see that a company like Microsoft would pick on, rather then encourage an up and coming young entrepreneur like Mr. Rowe. They should hire Mike for being smart enough to out smart the big guys!!!

Hope Mike stands his ground and doesn't let a company like Microsoft strong arm him. The fact that Microsoft has their lawyers sending a teenager pages of legal nonsense is ludicrous...that alone should be against the law!!! And the CDN $10.00 offer is pathetic and disgusting all rolled into one...it wouldn't even cover his start-up costs. Who do they think they are??? Mike needs to up his demand to 1,000,000...$1,000 is pocket change to these bullies. In fact, so is a million.

Bullying the little guy doesn't win product support Microsoft!!!

Signed,
"One Disgusted Canadian"

If someone gets his site by mistake, this person is an idiot, blind typist or flatout
drunk.

Not to be picky, but this is a case of TRADEMARK violation not COPYRIGHT violation. Update your article!

In pure legal terms Mike Rowe would have the law on his side, if Mike Rowe is his legal name. However, we are talking about David vs Goliath. I'm on the side of David.

Hang in there Mike you haven't done anything more than businessmen have been doing for years, "Trying to get business names that are a 'sound-a-like' to an established company.

According to other reports the settlement requested is $1,000, NOT $10,000.

Mike should get a lawyer, countersue, and become a rich man at 20.

What a stupid waste of time. How does this even cross the desk of Microlimps managment? Why are they so petty and short sighted to give the kid free press at their own expence. This will be thrown out, and the lawers will be the only ones to gain anything.

Bill and his boys should back off and leave the kid alone. Aren't they big and powerful enough as it is? They probably have spent $10,000 just in administrative and legal fees pursuing this so far. Either leave the kid alone or make him an offer he can't refuse, say $50,000 (to be used for college) and some type of summer job. This would get them the domain name and give them some much needed positive PR. Its kind of like the old saying, "You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar."

MS = EVIL... Leave the kid alone!

Honestly the MS position is without legal merrit
it just goes to show MS's attitude toward it's customer base with the insult of only offering $10.00 USD!!!! to what anybody would do if they we're into having a .com.
I say that people should switch to lunix or Mac and take some of the wind out of their arrogant sails.

As long as Mike Rowe doesn't produce buggy, over-priced, un-standards-compliant software, I doubt I'll confuse the two.

Microsoft Must - trademark infringement laws say that a company must show that they consistently go after companies that infringe upon their trademarks. If they fail to do so, they lose leverage in future court case.

So as much as I find Microsoft to be a repulsive, arogant company, they have no choice but to go after a "company" that has a name phonetically identical to their own.

The test for a trademark infringement goes something like this: Are the names similar enough so as to cause consumer confusion? Are the companies in the same or similar industries? Does the infringing company attempt to play off the established company's products.

Well, Mike-Rowe-Soft sounds a heck of a lot like Mic-Ro-Soft. Both companies are in the techology industry, but Microsoft is a software writer and MikeRoweSoft is a web developer. MikeRoweSoft does not appear to be naming his products/services after any of Microsofts products/services.

However, Mike Rowe is a kid with limited resources. Microsoft can simply out lawyer him into debt to force him out of the domain. It's a hard lesson for Mike, a lot of free publicity for Mike, but Mike knew what he was doing when he registered a name that sounds exactly like Microsoft. He knew he was playing off of it, and now he's got to face the music.

But if my name was Mike Rowe, I would have done the exact same thing.

Cut your losses Mike, ride the publicity wave. Setup a new site and be sure to get that second site name in the press while you've still got their ears.

I think Mike should up the price to $1,000,000...see how they like that.

Poor Mike Rowe! Now what? he can't even use his own name for his own personal web site? Just another example of a faceless multi-million dollar BULLY trying to squash the little guy.

how insecure can a giant be? but then Gates has spent over 14 mil buying up the real estate surrounding his bunker in Medina--on the Eastside

only goes to show that totalitarians go paranoid with their inflated egos expand too much

and obviously, he's extremely generous with his money, but only in the case of his own minions

"The Guyton family sold its property to Carletti in June 1996, after they complained that construction dust and fumes from the Gates estate were causing them respiratory problems.

"The one thing I heard around that time is they were going to remodel it for their nanny. But I don't know what they've done with it since then," Dr. Steven Guyton said. "

Local News: Friday, January 16, 2004
Seattle Times
Gates quietly spends $14 million buying homes near Medina estate
By Warren Cornwall
Seattle Times Eastside bureau

"stationery" means paper goods
Stationary is the train off the track

never trust a MS spell-checker to do the work for you

Go for it... I don't see anything wrong with what he did and from my own experience 10,000 is about right for more than just stationary... we are talking about time which would make this in the ballpark.... Salute Kid also nice looking work you've started...

companies are getting getting a bit crazy. Ok, I can see asking for something like the actual company name, but going out of the way for for a name that doesnt have anything to do with the company in general thats just plain crazy

I must say, that even though I hate to see the little guy go down, iIt seems pretty obvious to me that "MikeRoweSoft" was an attempt to capitalize on the name recognition of "Microsoft". Funny play on words?--Yes. Legal use of his name?-Unfortunately not. Microsoft has to protect its name and it's branding from becoming trivialized through misuse, and as liberal and anti-corp as I am, it totally makes sense to me that they would pursue their legal rights to control their image and name.

Sorry, as much as we all hate Microsoft, they appear to be in the right here, to me.

Microsoft should be told to pick a fight with somebody their size, not with a 17-year old programmer, which Bill Gates also was at one time (and he should remember that). I wish Mike luck, although I think he should ask for much more than $10,000 for his own name.

Can you say disingenuous and unbelievable?

I dislike the Microsoft monstrosity, but I dislike money-grubbers slightly more.

This seems akin to a louse squawking about being squished and saying he was just out for a stroll. Getting annoyed with the ape for squishing the louse doesn’t really make sense.

I've about had it with Microsoft! I hope the anti-microsoft sentiment this ridiculous action will generate will be just one more of many nails being hammered into their coffin.

How about a little more time on fixing the insecure software and less time on humoring your insecurities Microsoft? Appears there's some resentment of others trying to corner a very specific commodity. A name instead of an OS. LOL

This artical is misleading or inaccurate. The conflict is not about copyrights(which involve content and protecting creative expression), its about trademarks and servicemarks, which are more serious.


The key to most copyright infringement involves access(did he have?) and "substantial similarity". This is not an issue here.

Trademarks are mames, logo's and phrases controlled by the owner used to identify brands of products and services. One key issue is whether or not the use by another causes confusion, dilution of the mark or may do so. I believe it is possible but not certain in this case.

Microsoft is a great company, that many love to resent or worse, sometimes including me. Their problem is they have to protect their brands to continue using them. The ill will generated by their tactics is most counter productive. In all fairness most companies and law firms have to act tough to keep their marks.

Grade: C or D for bullying; A- or B for protecting their rights while losing much goodwill in the process.

In a world of giant corporations/buisness's,and yet they feel so threatened by the" little man!". Did they not start somewhere too?

What do you expect? Mr Gates Owns the world does he not? nowt else to do with his time, he gets bored ....ahhh bless

If Microsoft thinks it's good policy to be an overbearing cooperation, they should pursue this with all there powers....it will prove the point.

This is one of those little absurdities that makes the general public think they (Microsoft) are trying to control more than they should be allowed.

The publis relations department and the business professionaals at Mircrosoft shouel lose there jobs for even considering this cours of action and letting this get to this point.

I really get confused...Microsoft vs. MikeRoweSoft.....they must think I am really stupid to be confused by this, but they are just provind how stupid they are being

Mike Rowe \m/!! Rock on buddy!

Any one wishing to get on TV or in the news paper, needs to only purchase a domain name in some variation of a microsoft product.
It's better than people trying to kill or stalk others.
Thanks MS for providing a public service. Hollywood I have got your next reality TV show. How can MS screw with us next?

I think Microsoft should also sue his parents for naming their kid Mike and also for not changing their own last name from Rowe to Linux! Or maybe the latter was the grandparents fault. Sue them as well!

Leave the kid alone. Have a sense of humor... and anyone that might confuse MikeRowSoft with Microsoft probably shouldn't be using a computer anyway.

you'd think that sometimes, companies would have the sense to realize that frivolous lawsuits like this - that could be settled much easier in the first place without the use of the legal system - can be more detrimental to them, than the things that they're initiating legal action over in the first place.

i mean common, the negative publicity associated with this will probably cost microsoft at least the 10k that the kid originally wanted for his website.

also, $10? did they really expect the kid to except it?

It's just another case of the FatCat lawyers looking to justify their existance. It is the kids name which happens to sound like the"M" word. Lucky his name wasn't Bill Gates!
I hope reality wins out.

The hypocrisy here is astonishing. MS is an evil greedy big corporation, but this guy, who *obviously* registered the domain to be deliberately like microsoft.com, and then complains "I would have thought they would have offered me more than $10"... no, he's not greedy. It's all perfectly OK, because after all, he's just trying to screw over the big evil corporation, and that's a good thing... right? Who's the evil one here, really? Duh. Amazing.

MS gave the kid a chance to get out from under his stupid little game with his 15 minutes of fame and his $10 back in his pocket. Now, they will quite rightly sue him, and if he's dumb enough to fight it, it will cost him (or those who send him money for a "legal defense" fund) thousands or more. The old adage about fools and their money being quickly parted is certainly true here. He doesn't have a prayer. The names sound identical and they are both in the software business. The precedent in law is crystal clear. Any reasonable judge or person on a jury would see right through this scam.

like they have nothing better to do then go after some kid who is using his own name as part of his domain name.....good for him and i hope the best for him

I guess these guys are next:

http://www.mycrowesoft.com/index.htm

Dan Rosen

Don't give in and if those in Microsoft who think that they can own everything even your names + the word 'soft', let them pay not $10,000 but $10 million. What a greedy people!
Stay firm and good luck!

I think that Microsoft should get a life. Keep the fight to stay open Mike!! It's only a website and it's not even spelled the same way. If I were you I would sue their ass for wasting your time.. I went to the same school high school as you if it is Belmont. Rock on buddy, I'm behind you. Besides Bill Gates is a Multi- Billion aire that needs to be wiped out anyways. Something new will come a long one day hopefully soon. One day he will not only be a loser, but I hope he will be a poor loser with no company or money.
Maybe I will open the website
www.mycrowsoft.com.
I think I will just to piss them off.

MikeRoweSoft.net, info, co.uk
and likely many others all got registered by various parties the last couple days
(18-19 Jan 2004)
probably in response to this news.

Dimbulb M$ apparently did not see fit
to take these other 'confusing' names out of
circulation. Confusion Rules! So it is with their
so called business suites, licensing, security...
YOU name it..

I think that Microsoft should get a life. Keep the fight to stay open Mike!! It's only a website and it's not even spelled the same way. If I were you I would sue their ass for wasting your time.. I went to the same school high school as you if it is Belmont. Rock on buddy, I'm behind you. Besides Bill Gates is a Multi- Billion aire that needs to be wiped out anyways. Something new will come a long one day hopefully soon. One day he will not only be a loser, but I hope he will be a poor loser with no company or money.
Maybe I will open the website
www.mycrowsoft.com.
I think I will just to piss them off.

I think this is absolutely ridiculous. Microsoft is suing a 17 year old for putting up a domain name using his OWN NAME. But because it sounds like Microsoft when spoken they think they have rights to it. If I was mike rowe I would get the pay pal up on his site right now asking for donations to help him fight Microsoft. Way to go Microsoft like your reputation isn't bad enough already. Picking on kids now. ***h***es!

who gives a shit, microsfot are a monoply, let that rowe kid do what he wants jesus christ, rofl

site url wouldn't load??? :(

either too much traffic or microsnot (M$?) got ahold of him.

glad i use a mac whenever i can! long live open source, too!

if anyone get confused about site name, they deserve to end up at wrong site!

This is crazy on Microsoft's part.
I think as punishment for suing him, they should have to host his website or at least build it or provide some limmited serves to him for X amount of days.

I guess $10000 is not enough to compensate suffering Mike Rowe experienced for having his name sound like outspoken behemoth. We as a community should not let him down (at least without a pay).
But web site is already down - and that tells us something about the nature of freedom of speach in the era of shock and awe.

If Microsoft is concerned about URLs that may look or sound confusing to their customers they have had plenty of time and more than amply resources to identify and register all of those names. The fact that they have failed to do so indicates either that they have made a mistake or , in the past, they did not care.
Their current threats to Mr. Rowe are poor form, to say the least.
Microsoft should own up to their own mistakes and give Mr. Rowe a reasonable settlement, without threats.

It looks like a hoax, but from lawyers it
looks real! Again more trouble from Canada!
Keep on the fun, keep on the pun.

This is totally funny imo.

MS = losers and dicks

go mike go never sell!!

Leave the kid alone, ya big bully!

Linix users know how to spell Micro$oft and would never get it confused.

This is great. Microsoft is devastating its public image by suing everyone that might be of interest to it. Preying on a 17 year old boy is bound to put a smile on Microsoft customer's faces.... Perhaps it is time to put an end to this monopoly?

Good on ya mate. Tell the assholes to get STUFFED. These bastards think they own the bloody world and can stand over people.
Keep going.

I heard that Bill Gates wife call him "Microsoft "

If his name is actually Mike Rowe, then Microsoft should:

1) Let him proceed with registering with his name (for God's sake)

Or

2) Buy him out for the USD $10K he's suggesting, because the lawyers fees from Microsoft's legal department has undoubtedly exceeded that amount already. No sense in dragging this into the courts, they can afford this paltry $10K. It’s even a tax deductible expense for them.

Just for the PR value, think of the damage to their corporate image if they go after a 17 year old entrepreneur, who is well within his rights to name his company after his name. And from a business standpoint, which is the less expensive and most expedient thing to do?

Or do they want the monopoly on EVERYTHING?

Try acessing MikeRowesoft.com -- it is forbidden. So who controls the internet ?

As much as i despise MS, law is the law. We can't ignore it it just becuase we don't agree with it - or think this is a trivial matter. If you infringe on copyright, however trivial, and break the law in the process, you have to get called on it, regarldess of what we *think* is right.

Christ, there are hundreds of by-laws that have people on both sides of the fence - but if you break it, you have to be held respsondible.

So I guess I shouldn't register
"Megahard.com" then? Oh, wait, I bet you that one is already taken ;-) are they getting sued too?

Stupid mega-corporate asses. Just let the kid have his site. I mean, he's already invested a good chunk of time, energy, and effort on putting the thing together, plus he's got his own business that seems to be doing rather well... and he's -17- years old. That says something for the kid right there.

If they're really that hard up for a lawsuit, why doesn't Bill Gates try and patent binary or something. Stupid git.

since when using a person's full name on their company shingles is against the law?

people have changed their name; legally, to entice people, to stand up above the rest; to insure they are remembered;

while ten dollars may have been the cost of registration cost; what of related costs?

anyone who knows anything about setting up website knows there are costs involved; however little it maybe;

but to take something that is not of theirs; on whole, without paying for effort, and not making honest effort;

from business perspective seem intentional;

meaning, hey! kid, your time is totally worthless;
your creativity is totally worthless;

its all about money; lawyers are in it for money'; whether they bill microsoft; or in court time;

kid was in it for money so he can make few bucks;

question is: who is smarter of the two: and who has more creativity?

i tried accesing the site and i cant at all, so its probably microsoft messing it up, otherwise i think its totally unfair that they can do something like that to a 17 yr old. i hope the people from microsoft realize the horrible mistake that they have done mainly because people are going to be against it seeing it as a company that will stop at nothing to crush its competitors with no mercy even for a 17 yr old.

mikerowesoft.com... Code 403 Forbidden? I guess they got him already. Those lawyers are vicious. RIP Mike Rowe. I wish if i could threaten a giant corporation with just my name and a domain registry. :]

Tois Arus
Ottawa, Canada

What a load of cobblers. hey Mike..keep the site running mate...

You wanna know a scam?
Try an inquiry for a domain name.
I tried "microsoft.biz" a few months ago.
At first it came back as available for like 500 buck a year. Then it sent me into some kind of loop so I had to make the inquiry again.
This time the price tag was $7000/yr!

Beware the domain-name registry scam!

I think it's his brother's fault

In case you didn't know, Mike isn't an only child. He has a brother and a sister, and his brother's name is Mac. Mac is 24, but when he was 19, he started a media consulting company. Guess who he recieved a letter from. Actually, Macromedia was very nice about it.

Really, Mike should have known that Microsoft wouldn't be as nice as Macromedia, but lets just hope that his little sister, Mika, is smarter.

(Just Joking)

Alex King

Dumb kid. He has a similar sounding name in the same industry as a well-known industry leader. Sure he'd see some grief over it.

Mike Rowe is his name!
Once he added the word Soft he crossed the line, if you asked his website address over the phone he would pronounce it microsoft, Bottom line is he is just another 17 year old twitt testing the system at the expence of all us honest people.

Microsoft is cheap and bullying.

We don’t need no high priced lawyers.
We don’t need no thought control.
No dark sarcasm in the chatroom.
Bill Gates, leave Mike Rowe alone.
Hey, Bill Gates, leave Mike Rowe alone!
All in all it’s just another brick in Seattle.
All in all you’re just another brick in Seattle.

I suspect angelsoft.com is more likely to be taken to court by GOD than the toilet paper companies! heheheheh

Is MikeRowesoft related to MikeRobrain? This is too funny to be true!

Mike Rowe need to stand up to Bill Gates. He needs to make a stand against M$ and not be intimidated.
Microsoft is by far one of the most corrupt organizations and their business practices are documented as such.
Mike Rowe needs to push them to the limits and tell them SCREW YOU just like Lindows did. Otherwise, there is no freedom, and anybody with any sense will know microsucks is spelled microsoft.

do corporations really have the right to own an independents given name? can any of the thousand Lopez' famalies not have daughter named Jennifer? is this world comming to the brink of paranoia or are lawyers starving comedians?

An ALL time low for Microsoft and their BIG LAWYERS. I would love to see a counter case be won for $10,000,000 ( to wake them up) for wasting Mike Rowe's and everyone else's time with such foolishness, and put an end to all idiotic law suits.

Unless it's illegal to to have FirstnameLastnameSoft.com registered like JoeShmoeSoft.com I really don't see a case for Microsoft. Can't blame the kid for having similar sounding name.
I think big corporations are getting out of hand... they want to own everything. That's just sad.

If anything Microsoft should be more worried about growing popularity of Linux then this kid's website. I'm lookin to switch... getting tired of all the security problems.

Bill Gates and Microsoft need to get a life. It's a sad day when they have to pick on a kid Mike Rowe) using his own God given talents. Its high time Microsoft relaized they are not the God of the internet. What next, sue him for his legal birth name? Jerks...

This is what happens when bored overpayed lawyers feel the need to justify their salaries.

$10? From a company that has over $40 Billion in cash reserves? Get real.

The law? The law(at least here in the US) is made by lawyers!! When we stop electing lawyers we may be able to restore some sanity.

Mikerowesoft.TV is for sale on EBay.!!!!!!


Follow link.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3655942063

How ludicrous!

So now Little Billy G figures he has the monopoly on even names that have a phonetic sound similar to his baby.

Problem is, the suits at MS don't seem to understand the English language very well.

As far as speech is concerned - the stress on the two names is completely different:

MI-cro-soft and Mike-ROWE-soft.

Hope he takes Redmond to court himself in a countersuit. Any professional linguist should be able to give an understandable defense to any judge showing them the difference in the two names.

Almost seems to be a case of MS seeing a danger in their planned takeover of web search services by capitalizing on mis-spelled web names. After all, wouldn't want IE to redirect surfers to mikerowesoft when it is microsoft that is wanting to stear surfers to the MS site or to one of the companies that pay MS to have surfers redirected to their sites!

Everybody should visit his website and send him one dollar for his defense fund.

Hey, $10,000 is very cheap for MicroSoft. If they were smart, they would pay up and forget it now. The guy has a genuine case here for using his real name. BTW, did you know that MicroSoft paid $275,000,000 in attorney's fees to defend itself during the recent ANTI-TRUST court case? Just look in the Settlement they have offered to previous MicroSoft product purchasers.... what a laugh.... you can only get a refund for prior inflated software costs IF you purchase new software.

Bravo Microsoft! I believe that Linux is evil and that Mike Rowe is his right hand. Sorry to stop here but doctors are comming to my room again :-))))))))))))

correct the article because all other accounts regarding state that the mike rowe requested 1,000CD. that is one thousand, not ten thousand as your article purports.

Next MS will be wanting royalties from everyone called Mike!

You know why M$ insist on doing this? Going after petty lawsuits and wasting time? Because they're so rolling in dough that they just don't care, and because it gives them the power... they don't think any 17 year old kid is going to dare opposing them when faced with a lawsuit.

Nevermind the fact that if I bet more of these victims of these power games actually went to court with a good lawyer, they'd win against those money scrounging bastards. They just bet on the fact they can scare people off and they WON'T take proceedings further.

Hang in there Mike. Don't let them scare you off. You have a clear case and it's just petty power games on their part. Stand tough :D

Microsoft don't really have anything to go by, its the boys name!! Whats next am I gonna be sued for my name if it was phenetically similar to anyother companys name??
IT just goes to show how petty microsoft are, legally the boy has evey right to use his own name for his products etc.

www.mikerowesoft.com is like www.microsoft.com ? Are you confused? I'm not thats because I like Linux! But for those silly windows users out there that are confused .... The site is W W W DOT M I C R O S O F T DOT C O M or www.microsoft.com OK. Now leave Mike alone! Gezz! Gosh! Oh! Nooooooo! It's Mr. Biiiiilllllllllllllllll! Gezz You Killed Kenny! Doh!

They've been doing this since 1997 according to an article I just read related to Mike Rowe's plight. Go, Mike, fight these fiends.

http://www.brendastardom.com/arch.asp?ArchID=341

I'm sorry but this really is America for you. This is happening all over us US, just on a different scale. I think you guys need one big time out.

"Mike Rowe" should have known about this case before he got this .com, for all any of us know hes probably just an Anit Microsoft kinda guy.

Once more the Gates outfit tries to intimidate the small guy. Does BG's arrogence and greed know no bounds? He dominates the market and still wants to kill off everyone else.
He even tried to access all our hardware
Mike Rowe keep up the good work we are all rooting for you

Firstly, the money that M$ will spend comes from our pockets. So don’t buy the next generation of M$ products. Simple. We don’t need them nor the M$ vision for our future. From what I have read, the next iterations of wINDOWS and oFFICE totally disregard the anti-trust settlement in an extremely blatant manner. So much for M$ respect for the law and the courts. Oh, by the way, does M$ own the trade-mark for office, if so I don’t need to go to work anymore.

Secondly, the laws and courts outside America may well not be so supportive of the Bully Boy tactics of Billy Goat quite so readily.

Thirdly, it appears to me that they, M$ lawyers, may well have slandered/libelled Mike Rowe with their somewhat unsubstantiated allegations in their 25 page diatribe. It would be nice to see them all get their comeuppance, just for once.

Clearly a case of the pot calling the (very small) kettle black seeing how much of Redmond’s progress has been made dishonourably at the expense of others. As you sow, so shall you reap – hopefully.

Hurry up Linux and get your act together!

Microsoft Rule! Down with MikeRoweSoft!

What a load of crap microsoft is proposing, how can they open up their big mouth and all they could talk was just a whole load of rubbish. The kid registered the site using his name and all microsoft could say was people would mistake his name for theirs. I guess its just them again trying to monopolise all situations re software. I think they are about to eat their own words on this. I'm fully in support of mike rowe.

microsoft dont stand a chance this is another example of the big fish taking on a tiddler.
i would suggest for this upset to mike rowe microsoft will offer $100,000 for that name!.
or the people who use his software will bite back in droves.

Absolutely wrong. The writer that posts the comment that Microsoft is "required" to file lawsuit is dead wrong. They might be "well advised" bu t they are "required." If that is the logic, then is Mikerowsoft "required" to sue for defamation, harrassment and intimidation by frivolous lawsuits?

To hell with those pigs, Microsoft Uber Alles! Corporate swine...

"If Microsoft believes their customers will be confused by the existence of mikerowesoft.com, then they hold an extremely dim view of their customer's intelligence."

Umm. . . . yeah!
When has MSFT ever shown that they think of their customer base as anything more than something to be taken for as much money (with as little effort) as they can?

Don't give up Mike. Don't sell out. It's your name.

Give us a break! Just in case any unfortunate critters who can't spell come upon this site which looks nothing like Microsoft (who spend a lot of money on successful corporate branding) and get confused...
I look forward to the day when 'the powers that be' start treating all the 'little people' as if they might just have some intelligence.

Hope this young man appears on the US talk shows, preferably Today Show, he is a symbol for his peers and this should be talked about in depth. He did register the domain name, and then used it for a part-time business, and his real name is Mike Rowe. I see the issues from both sides---but it needs the public opinion in a forum setting to understand that the small guy can't be bullied by the giant.

I back Microsoft on this issue, there will be a level of confusion for consumers. I do not care that the kid 17, he needs to pick another name.

Unreal ... An yet we continue to support the Microsoft cartel.

This guy is using his own name to build a nice little web design business and doesnt need the hassle of the arrogant Bill Gates. Although he believes Microsoft rule the world, they dont.

Stand up to them Mike Rowe. I'm sure you will find some lawyers who'd be happy to work for you. This is almsot as high profile as it gets. Take it to court and it will surely cost them a tad more than the $10.00 offer they have put forth. Millions possibly.

Withdraw your $10,000.00 offer immediately as that is just pocket change for Billy Boy. He'd find that between the cushions of his couch for god's sake.

Make them either back off , or pay to the hilts. If you give in, your not ever going to be able to have another domain name with "MikeRowe" in in without causing Bill some issues.

STAND YOUR GROUND MIKE ! Bill Gates sure would in your position.

Best of luck

Having fun or just having the giant sweat a little. OK Mike that was a good joke. Your parents must have had the vision to name you Mike. Seems cool to to add soft to your name and challenge the big guy. If your mother was a lawyer and you went through with a plan to get 80% + of the internet using your product then I would do my best to NOT support you. Enjoy the publicity, change the domain name and go on - but don't sell out cheap. Bill wouldn't. In my opinion, this is not a trade name problem or even a copyright problem. This is the big guy checking up on the world to protect his name. Mike hang on to yours.

You know...I believe some people have been posting multiple times...On another note, I'm reading way too many "we hate ms" posts. Now you guys are just jumping in because you hate ms, not because you support the kid.

Seriously guys and gals, grow up. There are probably going to be a thousand sites like this popping out now just to spite someone because they have nothing better to do...

What's more important?

A man's name?
Mike Rowe

A company's name?
Microosoft.com

Yo mike the flying v says 'From cali near the ' "sili valley " be careful bro they might past a picture of you molesting marine life .Best wishes against the ~ CORP pS sTICK tO yOUR GUNS Bro & Tell em to kick sum cash or no deal. !!!!

Can M$ get any more pathetic than this? I really doubt it. Rock on Bill, you have one user less on your windoze OS now.

Shirley Willson? Are you a South African living in London? If so, do you remember me?
Also, the infringement of technology on art is slowly degrading the quality of new ideas.

As a Mac user I think its hilarious that microsoft are pathetic enough to send Mike a 25 page letter explaining why people would get confused between the two sites.

I couldn't even write half a page on how people might confuse them. Does Bill Gates really think his customers are that stupid. (Ok, they buy his software but there are limits!)

Mike Rowe, please post the letter on the internet so we can all have another good laugh at M$.

I enjoyed you artical.

I have a different problem. I am a small jewelr manufacturer who owns a trademark called
THE DATING® RING.

THE DATING® RING is a ring that one person gived to another when they are dating.

The problem I have is that many websites have dating ring categories in their search engines and generally have the highest amount of hit results.

Since I am small, litigation can be prohibitive.

Is seems unfair to me that the legal system
will allow a deep-pocketed corporation to seal
intellectual property from some poor working man.

If I were very poor, and committed a criminal act, I could get counsel appointed to me free.
But, since this is a civil, there is no free remedy.

I think it stinks,


John J. Hamzik
P.S.Maybe you have an answer

Friday 26th March 2004





TalkBack on:
Software giant threatens mikerowesoft
Munir Kotadia


Email this Report abuse





Name: John J. Hamzik
Location: Johnson City, New York 13790
Occupation: Manufacturer
Comment: When is trademark thief a crime?

I enjoyed you artical.
I have a different problem. I am a small jjewelry manufacturer who owns a trademark called THE DATING® RING.

THE DATING® RING is a ring that one person gived to another when they are dating.

The problem I have is that many websites have dating ring categories in their search engines and generally have the highest amount of hit results.

Since I am small, litigation can be prohibitive.

Is seems unfair to me that the legal system
will allow a deep-pocketed corporation to steal intellectual property from some poor working man.

If I were very poor, and committed a criminal act, I could get counsel appointed to me free.
But, since this is a civil issue, there is no free remedy.

I think it stinks,

John J. Hamzik
P.S.Maybe you have an answer

all the best to you mate make them pay i have the same probblem at the mi i own the domain name www.microsoft-onlin.com and microsoft has said it will pay me £5.99 for it i got a LETTER and it said the really what it what should i ask for i could do with some help on this so if any body can help me contact me on seanbarnsdale30@htomail.com

Well I support Mike, I'll even send him a few bucks for the lawyer, Microsoft is trully full of crap.

Mike if you read this email me your address and let me know if u take paypal

Microsoft should spend their money fixing their long list of bugs instead of going after a 17 year old.

Hope Mike collects $100000 from Bill and microcrap

I Think we should all do something about this,

lets format our computers take Microsoft out and put Linux in.

that would really hurt their pockets.