Victoria webdesigner sued by Microsoft

I'm going to have to side with MBB and Microsoft here. He knew what he was doing when he registered that domain. Enunciated, it sounds exactly the same. He's making money from the Microsoft name, is it that hard to comprehend? I would be filing the same lawsuit if someone other than me was making money off MY name. You can't tell me that when someone types his domain into their address bar they aren't pronouncing it "Microsoft". Whether that consumer makes the distinction or not is irrelevant.

If it ever goes to court I would be willing to work for a percentage of the settlement fees or an outright win ;)

Its a silly attempt by a large corporation to inhibit others rights, even though the name maybe directly influenced from the name Microsoft, the fact that the kids name is Mike Rowe and the fact that the name is only remotely similiar in spelling (not at all) would see him on safeground should a case be pending.

In my opinion Microsoft would not win this case in court...

They are using an old strategy... First you called the guy to have something done in you favor... Then when the person refuse you have your layer bring the guy to court... but just before the actual court session you offer the guy a friendly settlement... In most case anyone using this strategy know then they would not win they only fool and scare a person who is right...

I do believe that trademarks cover pronunciation, so no ifs, ands, or buts about it, the kid did wrong.

Can anybody prove this is even real??
I smell a "donation" scam...

Please send me money to help fight my bogus lawsuit??

A whois shows the following data:
----------------------------------------------
Registrant:
MikeRoweSoft
Michael Rowe
131 - 883 Van Isle Way
Victoria, BC V9B5R8
CA
+1.2504744441
[email]64808@whois.gkg.net[/email]

[QUOTE=pank]Can anybody prove this is even real??
I smell a "donation" scam...

Please send me money to help fight my bogus lawsuit??[/QUOTE]

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Maybe that's just the american thought process. I apologize for rolling my eyes. I don't see anywhere a guy asking for money? Do you? Also, the site was up just yesterday. This thing is making news fast.

http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2004/01/19/317906.html

http://www.canada.com/vancouver/news/story.asp?id=37261520-1B58-4E4F-B534-7077040C8071

http://edition.cnn.com/2004/TECH/internet/01/19/offbeat.mike.rowe.soft.ap/index.html

It's all over the local news stations here. All you have to do is check a news site.

[QUOTE=Spectra]:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Maybe that's just the american thought process. I apologize for rolling my eyes. I don't see anywhere a guy asking for money? Do you? Also, the site was up just yesterday. This thing is making news fast.

http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2004/01/19/317906.html

http://www.canada.com/vancouver/news/story.asp?id=37261520-1B58-4E4F-B534-7077040C8071

http://edition.cnn.com/2004/TECH/internet/01/19/offbeat.mike.rowe.soft.ap/index.html

It's all over the local news stations here. All you have to do is check a news site.[/QUOTE]


:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Maybe that is just the non-american thought process to think what you said. If you can't see the HUGE help my lawsuit button at the TOP of his page then get your eyes checked...

Don't turn this into a petty anti-american piece of crap thread. I don't see any links on HIS site to any news stories other than a non-related starbucks story. Then I see a HUGE donation button....

Common sense tells me it's a scam. Not being American (capital A)...
Your links are more than he offered on his own site.

Can anybody prove this is even real??
I smell a "donation" scam...

Please send me money to help fight my bogus lawsuit??
__________________
--Bob--

...how much money you need, pank? Is this another sex-offender thing? Oh, wait--I didn't read anyone elses post... brb.


j/k I must side with the older, wiser, MBB and Mattboy on this one. The kid should have taken his $10 and run!!!! Or, if he did want a settlement, he should have itemized the actual costs of his business cards, advertising, and maybe a couple of hours labor at a reasonable rate for designing his logo, and been legitimate, not pull $10,000 out of his arse and laugh about it to his friends.

Even if it did influence his name, why does it give microsoft to take it away from him?

In my opinion Microsoft would not win this case in court...

Business ppl win. Period. (especially micro. who the hell could compete with them?)

Also domain disputes are always settled based on who would lose money over the domain (im pretty sure anyway).