Am I missing something? The wikipedia article claims he intentionally bought the domain because it sounded like Microsoft. The domain very clearly infringed on Microsoft's trademark. Microsoft offered to repay him the cost of buying the domain name (which they are under no legal obligation to do). I don't really get why Microsoft is the bad guy here (and I'm no particular fan of the company).
Microsoft vs. MikeRoweSoft
11–20 of 26 posts
Re: Microsoft vs. MikeRoweSoft
#12Am I missing something? The wikipedia article claims he intentionally bought the domain because it sounded like Microsoft. The domain very clearly infringed on Microsoft's trademark. Microsoft offered to repay him the cost of buying the domain name (which they are under no legal obligation to do). I don't really get why Microsoft is the bad guy here (and I'm no particular fan of the company).
When a multi-billion dollar corporation thumps a 12th grader over the head with its legal department, people are going to call foul.
Re: Microsoft vs. MikeRoweSoft
#13Well this is kind of weird to see here. Especially since it happened almost 10 years ago. I am Mike Rowe. I can answer any questions if people want. I did an AMA on reddit in 2009 as well http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/ajsih/i_am_the_guy_who... .
I just wanted to say, you are my hero.
Re: Microsoft vs. MikeRoweSoft
#14Well this is kind of weird to see here. Especially since it happened almost 10 years ago. I am Mike Rowe. I can answer any questions if people want. I did an AMA on reddit in 2009 as well http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/ajsih/i_am_the_guy_who... .
I just wanted to say, you are my hero.
Why is he your hero?
Re: Microsoft vs. MikeRoweSoft
#15Am I missing something? The wikipedia article claims he intentionally bought the domain because it sounded like Microsoft. The domain very clearly infringed on Microsoft's trademark. Microsoft offered to repay him the cost of buying the domain name (which they are under no legal obligation to do). I don't really get why Microsoft is the bad guy here (and I'm no particular fan of the company).
When a multi-billion dollar corporation thumps a 12th grader over the head with its legal department, people are going to call foul.
From my reading of the article (which may well not represent the whole story, I admit) they only "thumped him over the head" with a C&D when he asked for $10,000 for his infringing domain. I'm not sure being a 12th grader gets you off the hook for that.
Re: Microsoft vs. MikeRoweSoft
#16Well this is kind of weird to see here. Especially since it happened almost 10 years ago. I am Mike Rowe. I can answer any questions if people want. I did an AMA on reddit in 2009 as well http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/ajsih/i_am_the_guy_who... .
For the first paragraph of the article, I believed that you were the host of Dirty Jobs...
Re: Microsoft vs. MikeRoweSoft
#17Am I missing something? The wikipedia article claims he intentionally bought the domain because it sounded like Microsoft. The domain very clearly infringed on Microsoft's trademark. Microsoft offered to repay him the cost of buying the domain name (which they are under no legal obligation to do). I don't really get why Microsoft is the bad guy here (and I'm no particular fan of the company).
When a multi-billion dollar corporation thumps a 12th grader over the head with its legal department, people are going to call foul.
According to the article, all they did was send him a cease an desist order (albeit a rather long one.) That's pretty standard.
Just sounds like the public got riled up for no good reason.
Re: Microsoft vs. MikeRoweSoft
#18Well this is kind of weird to see here. Especially since it happened almost 10 years ago. I am Mike Rowe. I can answer any questions if people want. I did an AMA on reddit in 2009 as well http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/ajsih/i_am_the_guy_who... .
I just wanted to say, you are my hero.
I think you need to re-evaluate your criteria in choosing a hero.
Re: Microsoft vs. MikeRoweSoft
#19Earlier quoted context omitted.
I just wanted to say, you are my hero.
Why is he your hero?
Well because as a high school student he stood up to a multi-billion dollar corporation and didn't bend over to their offer of $10 measly dollars.
Also my original comment was half joking, but the sentiment remains.
Re: Microsoft vs. MikeRoweSoft
#20Well this is kind of weird to see here. Especially since it happened almost 10 years ago. I am Mike Rowe. I can answer any questions if people want. I did an AMA on reddit in 2009 as well http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/ajsih/i_am_the_guy_who... .
For the first paragraph of the article, I believed that you were the host of Dirty Jobs...
I'm pretty much the opposite of that Mike Rowe. I've never worked a day of hard labour in my life. I've considered starting a YouTube channel with me doing clean jobs, but there's only so many times in life you can copy the success of other people/companies.