[Sndbox] I hope the kid wins.

[Charles]

Title: Message



 



  
  
    
      Microsoft Takes on Teen Over Web Site 
     

  
  
    
      Mon Jan 19, 8:05 AM ET
    

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Mike Rowe thinks it's funny 
that his catchy name for a Web site design company sounds a lot like Microsoft. 



  
  
    
      
      
        
        
          
     
The software giant, however, is not amused. 

"Since my name is Mike Rowe, I thought it would be funny to add 'soft' to the 
end of it," said Rowe, a 17-year-old computer geek and Grade 12 student in 
Victoria, British Columbia. 

Microsoft Corp. and its attorneys have demanded that he give up his domain 
name, the Vancouver Province newspaper reported Sunday. 

Rowe registered the name in August. In November, he received a letter from 
Microsoft's Canadian lawyers, Smart & Biggar, informing him he was 
committing copyright infringement. 

He was advised to transfer the name to the Redmond, Wash.-based corporation. 

"I didn't think they would get all their high-priced lawyers to come after 
me," Rowe said. 

He wrote back asking to be compensated for giving up his name. Microsoft's 
lawyers offered him $10 in U.S. funds. Then he asked for $10,000. 

On Thursday, he received a 25-page letter accusing him of trying to force 
Microsoft into giving him a large settlement. 

"I never even thought of getting anything out of them," he said, adding that 
he only asked for the $10,000 because he was "sort of mad at them for only 
offering 10 bucks." 

He said family and friends are backing him and a lawyer has offered to advise 
him for free. 

He's also keeping his sense of humor. 

"It's not their name. It's my name. I just think it's kind of funny that 
they'd go after a 17-year-old," Rowe said. 

Company spokesman Jim Desler said Sunday, "Microsoft has been in 
communication with Mr. Rowe in a good faith effort to reach a mutually agreeable 
resolution. And we remain hopeful we can resolve this issue to everyone's 
satisfaction." 
 

 
 
 
 
*** I 
married Miss Right. I just didn't know her first name was Always.***
 Homepage:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/truthpost/Sports:http://www.sportscommandments.comLove:http://www.liberalscum.comI have sworn 
upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the 
mind of man. - Thomas Jefferson 

  
  
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