Microsoft & MikeRoweSoft

[Katahu]

Check this out.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/internet/0 ... index.html

www.microsoft.com

and

www.mikerowesoft.com

[loomex]

I'm glad the kid held his ground when they first tried to offer him $10.

[Fozzer]

...Blimey...!
I can't believe that Microsoft got away with that.... ...!
They are two entirely different words and spellings, so there shouldn't be any confusion...!!!
If I'd have been Mike Rowe I think I would have stuck to my guns... ...!

Paul....(Fozzersoft)....since 1980.... ....!

[Ivan]

voice recognition software probably will tell you that they are the same

[ozzy72]

I posted this about a week ago!!!
Good luck to Mike on sorting out Sir Bill (as we Brits will now have to call him )

Ozzy

[Jared]

it's ridiculous...

[Fozzer]

voice recognition software probably will tell you that they are the same

Hi Ivan...
If you use Space's Oirish translator there should be no confusion...
"'eeloo 'dere. dis is mikerowesaft.com 'ere"

(Hello there. This is mikerowesoft.com here).

LOL...!

Cheers all...!
Paul.

http://www.whoohoo.co.uk/irish-translator.asp

...thanks, Space Ace... ...!

[Politically Incorrect]

I feel the "Giant" took advantage of this kid!!
He should have held out for more than a X-box and certifications and a invite.
Microsoft tries to make themselves look good by offering this but they're sitting there with sh*t eating grins on their faces knowing they got away with murder
If I was the kids father I would have went for more!! And put him through college at the very least!
After all the software giant disgraced the family name!!!!!!!

[OTTOL]

...

Paul....(Fozzersoft)....since 1980.... ....!

.......they make pills for that problem these days!

[Felix/FFDS]

I feel the "Giant" took advantage of this kid!!
He should have held out for more than a X-box and certifications and a invite.
Microsoft tries to make themselves look good by offering this but they're sitting there with sh*t eating grins on their faces knowing they got away with murder
If I was the kids father I would have went for more!! And put him through college at the very least!
After all the software giant disgraced the family name!!!!!!!

Yes and no -

Yes the kid took advantage of his name sounding like Micro .... and added "soft" so the complete combination sounds the same.

Presume that the kid, who obviously has some talent, becomes a significant player in the software field.  Then down the line, Microsoft is deluged in questions regarding the MikeRoweSoft Server Software for Business, when Microsoft is trying to sell its Microsoft Business Server Software ...

Now, if he had set up as MRowe Software, then I don't think Microsoft would have complained...

Either way, I feel he was purposely doing a play on sounds, and if he accepted the settlement, he's happy.

He got something for having a bit of fun, and Microsoft admits they overreacted a bit.

[Lethal.Ambition]

[quote]

Yes and no -

Yes the kid took advantage of his name sounding like Micro .... and added "soft" so the complete combination sounds the same.

Presume that the kid, who obviously has some talent, becomes a significant player in the software field.

[Craig.]

remember aswell hes busy with school. And Microsoft have bottomless pockets to pay for the best lawyers, put those together had it not been settled he would have prob ended up with nothing. And pretty much what felix said

[Politically Incorrect]

Even if he called it Mike Rowe Software, you know M$ would still go out and get him. My god it is the name he was born with! He can't help the fact that when you say his name that it sounds like that.
I agree with the fact that by adding the "soft" it was done purposely but my point is, if my last name was McDonald and I opened a business and called it McDonald's Hardware for example, does that moraly give the burger giant the right to force me to change my name of the business? No
But since we live in a society without morales they can and will do anything to force a name change. Even when the name of my place will do nothing to effect their business Ray Kroc who is known as the founder of McDonalds forced the actual McDonald brothers to change the name of thier original resturant all because of copyright!
And when it comes to whether or not down the road he becomes a software giant himself shouldn't make any differeance. By the time that comes M$ had it's fair share of time ruling the software world.
It all comes down to power and greed, M$ knows that this kid won't ever effect their business as a whole but is just trying to show their power, and all it shows is greed! I'm surprised M$ doesn't own the right to the word "soft" yet!
I'm just sick and tired of seeing the "little" people get abused by those with power and money, and threats of lawsuits over something like your name.
By the way I heard that Sir Gates is now requiring anyone with the name Bill to change your name or a lawsuit will be pending! He fears that someone might confuse you with him!
And to add, voice recognition isn't that acurate anyway!
Because we all speak differently we could all say the same thing and the software will probably hear something different. I know that is the way mine is, if I have a cold or something it won't even reconize who I am, so voice recognition shouldn't even be considered as a reason for a name change.

[Politically Incorrect]

Sounds like Mike realized he got ripped off in the deal with M$.
He now has the papers sent to him from M$ up for auction on Ebay, I haven't looked yet but last I heard it was around $1000.

[Hagar]

I'm just sick and tired of seeing the "little" people get abused by those with power and money, and threats of lawsuits over something like your name.

Hear Hear........! It's about time the little guys of this world started fighting back. Pity somebody can't take up their cause. I would love to see that.

By the way I heard that Sir Gates is now requiring anyone with the name Bill to change your name or a lawsuit will be pending! He fears that someone might confuse you with him!

He might not realise this yet but as a US citizen the one thing he will never be allowed to do is to call himself Sir Bill. I like it. One up to the little guys.

Foreign citizens occasionally receive honorary knighthoods; they are not dubbed, and they do not use the style 'Sir'. Such knighthoods are conferred by The Queen, on the advice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, on those who have made an important contribution to relations between their country and Britain.

Foreign citizens with knighthoods include the former US Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger, Chancellor Kohl, President Mitterrand and Mayor Giuliani of New York.

http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page489.asp