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Story: MikeRoweSoft garners funds to fight back

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Posted by: Anonymous (Tuesday 20 January 2004, 1:10 PM)

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I just read that one reader 'correctly' feels Microsoft will lose its future right to contest trademark infringements if it fails to contest MikeRowesoft. What nonsense. This assumes that MikeRoweSoft is in fact an infringement of Microsofts copyright, which has neither been proven nor, on face value, looks even remotely fair, either legally or morally. Mike Rowe has a far GREATER right to use the term MikeRoweSoft that Bill Gates has to use Microsoft, with the exception of course being that Microsoft is already trademarked. However, this trademark is for, and let me be clear, MICROSOFT, not MIKEROWESOFT. Microsoft has a trademark on its name, but it does not own the word MICRO nor does it own the word SOFT. This means neither does it own its phonetics. To allude that it does, or that it owns any word or term that has the same phonetics as its trademark is ludicrous. If this is true, then remove MICRO and SOFT from the dictionary because the dictionary meanings of these terms are now obsolete. Mike Rowe has a right to name a business after his own name if no other business or trademark already exists with THAT EXACT NAME. This is a classic case of David vs Goliath where Goliath is clearly the MONSTER and David is clearly the HERO. I'll log on and put some money into Mike's defence fund. If everyone in the world contributes just one dollar, MICROSOFT can say goodbye to their case and, by default, will have provided the very fuel that makes MIKEROWESOFT a potential large competitor. I hope that Microsofts pettiness bites them hard on the arse. One last point: as a web designer, anyone with any brains knows that no web designer is ever going to be able to earn the sort of money that Microsfot earns - not even close. It simply is impossible, even if you have a major web design company with hundreds of employees. MikeRoweSoft could never harm Microsoft financially, and to accuse Mike Rowe of attempting to extort money from Microsoft is the same as saying if you take one straw from a haystack you've damaged the haystack immeasurably. Bill Gates, if you are reading this, take notice that all of a sudden your company is now in the eyes of millions, all thinking you are a bastard, all thinking you are about one thing: monopolising the IT industry at the expense of the very same people who purchase your products. With millions of people praying that Mike Rowe wins any legal proceeding against you, I fail to see how even with your expensive lawyers you have a chance. Overwhelming opinion is against you, and even if you did somehow manage to win a case against Mike Rowe, you'll lose by the alienation you will have caused many. I will think twice now anytime I look at a Microsoft product, because I know that you and your company are not about your customers, not about the people, but about one thing: keeping the little guy poor and lining your coffa's with more money than you need or are entitled to - or can realistically use. Go Mr. Rowe, there are many of us who will support you, and many more who will blackban Microsoft as their true motives are now exposed to the masses. Funny how a little fun business name might very well change the world. Hahahah.

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Full Talkback thread

Story: MikeRoweSoft garners funds to fight back

  1. Dear Mike, Just to let u know u have more than en... Anonymous
  2. Micro's Soft Thinking! Think of the legal fees... PennyFrazier
  3. I just read that one reader 'correctly' feels Micr... Anonymous
  4. I hope Billy Boy Gates is happy now that the blund... Anonymous
  5. Microsoft are forever throwing their weight around... Anonymous
  6. Microsoft ought to just buy Mike's site for the $1... mark ginzo
  7. I don't care about Microsoft or Mikerowesoft, I am... Anonymous
  8. Think about visually impaired people. If some tex... Anonymous
  9. I think its great that so many people are offering... Anonymous
  10. Good On U Mike!!! There should be no problem! Aft... Michael Miller
  11. Its all about principle. Mike Rowe cannot deny th... Anonymous
  12. Well you also cannot deny that his name is Mike Ro... Anonymous
  13. Make your new domain name public before Microsoft... John Normanton
  14. Amazing - we should all start registering similar... Maurice Clarke
  15. Sorry but how is his site an infringement? u might... Anonymous
  16. I don't care about Microsoft or Mikerowesoft, I am... Anonymous
  17. Just goes to show how sad and desperate Microsoft... Anonymous
  18. MS is on solid legal ground, but $10? That's the... Anonymous
  19. Go for it Mike ...... you didn't start out with th... Hugh Janue
  20. Mike, you fight for your site. After all its your... Anonymous
  21. Good on you Mike! Lets face it, if its such a prob... Mike N
  22. Haha! Pure jokers, keep up the good work mike Seren
  23. Hey Mike I wish you all the luck in the world, if... James Barnwell
  24. Go Mike!!! IS that U Garner?? Well see u on L4Y!!... Dan Goodyear (Dan Killer on L4Y)
  25. Microsoft Suck. Just how low are these people goin... James HIll
  26. I'm still with you Mike, let's realy piss Billy Bo... james barnwell
  27. gets the facts straight guys.. Mike Rowe lives in... glenn letham
  28. Hope microsoft sees there dumb (microsoft that is)... Anonymous
  29. I think that Microsoft is making too much of a dea... Brian Li
  30. Anti-MS.. how fresh and interesting ! If Microsoft... Anonymous
  31. Ha ha. I think all of this is absolutely hilariou... Anonymous
  32. Poor Mike. Can see why Microsoft have to take acti... Rykan
  33. David v Goliath I have been computing since the ea... Anonymous
  34. this story can spin bigger and badder?Yes. It may... John Lo
  35. When does MS sue Viagra? They cure the micro-soft... angered canadian
  36. MS doesn't have anything better to do, do they? P... Adam
  37. I think that is totally stupid - Who does microsof... Greg
  38. Should not have messed with Bill Gates, that basta... mAcrosoft
  39. Voicing my support of Mike Rowe. Let the little g... linux user
  40. interesting story... ...however, i think that addi... boron lester
  41. First they make bad software, then they try t... Joe Bloggs

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