Microsoft flexes its monopolistic power again: Boy-Buy-Out!

[xxxxxJohnGaltxxxxx]

Microsoft to take over MikeRoweSoft.com

...kid settled for an X-Box and some Microsoft certification training

SEATTLE, Washington (AP) -- A Canadian teenager whose Web site address bothered a certain giant software company will find a new home on the Web, Microsoft Corp. said Friday.

Mike Rowe, a 17-year-old resident of Victoria, British Columbia, has agreed to pick a new name for his Web site, currently called www.mikerowesoft.com, said Microsoft spokesman Jim Desler.

Mike's father, Kim Rowe, confirmed that his son had struck an agreement with Microsoft. Rowe said his son could not be interviewed Friday because he had to study for final exams.

Mike also is working feverishly to put together a new Web site, his father said.

Desler said Microsoft would cover Mike's costs of changing to a new Web site and redirecting traffic from the old site. Microsoft also had agreed to help the teen get Microsoft certification training and other gifts, including an Xbox game console, he said, and has invited Mike to a technology festival in March at the corporation's headquarters in suburban Redmond.

"We wanted to do this in a way that's going to foster his interest in technology," Desler said.

In a posting on his Web site earlier this month, the teen said he received a 25-page letter from Microsoft informing him he was committing copyright infringement, and threatening legal action.

Desler said Friday that Microsoft believes it's important to take steps to prevent widespread infringement of its name. But he conceded Microsoft's original approach was "admittedly maybe impersonal."

 

[EagleKeeper]

American way.

Come up with a great idea and then sell it to some-one with deep pockets.

 

[Czar]

hehe smart move on his behalf

 

[xxxxxJohnGaltxxxxx]

I has ideas like this long ago...friend and I wanted to stake a claim, when the web was just getting started, on a number of addresses from major corporations...get them setup and ready to sell for some coin...believe there is a law against this that prohibits this very activity...anyone heard of something like this? I would be interested in reading the text...believe "squatting" is the word the legislation uses.

 

[Witling]

I have a close friend who does biological research. He says, "If you're sued by one of the big guys, you sell." For them, the law suit is pocket change. For you, it's $150,000.

 

[Strk]

Originally posted by: Czar
hehe smart move on his behalf

No way, he gets an Xbox, but no games; dumb!

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: Strk

Originally posted by: Czar
hehe smart move on his behalf

No way, he gets an Xbox, but no games; dumb!

That is only what the media reported. He may get games for life for all we know

 

[mrCide]

nah, he can just buy a mod chip and screw them again

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: Strk

Originally posted by: Czar
hehe smart move on his behalf

No way, he gets an Xbox, but no games; dumb!

I read somewhere that he does get games, don't know how many. If I were him I'd probably keep the domain just for the principle of it, though even I would be tempted by someone flashing lots 'o cash in my face.

 

[zephyrprime]

believe there is a law against this that prohibits this very activity...anyone heard of something like this?

There is. Some sort of cyber-squatting law like you mention. If this idea of yours was from the early days of the net (even as late as 1996), it might have worked becuase the law wasn't enacted till later.

The kid is in able to partially skirt the law because his site name is his actually name.

 

[Jeff7]

and has invited Mike to a technology festival in March at the corporation's headquarters in suburban Redmond.

That could be fun. Melt down the Xbox and the games, take it to their tech fest, and pour the plastic/silicon soup either into several of their new PC's, or else onto the people in their legal department.
And they so graciously offered Microsoft products, Microsoft training, and a Microsoft tech tour. They're just going to buy him out, and try to turn him into another "spokesperson" for Microsoft. Pathetic.

 

[XZeroII]

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
American way.

Come up with a great idea and then sell it to some-one with deep pockets.

What's wrong with that?

 

[digitalsm]

Originally posted by: Jeff7

and has invited Mike to a technology festival in March at the corporation's headquarters in suburban Redmond.

That could be fun. Melt down the Xbox and the games, take it to their tech fest, and pour the plastic/silicon soup either into several of their new PC's, or else onto the people in their legal department.
And they so graciously offered Microsoft products, Microsoft training, and a Microsoft tech tour. They're just going to buy him out, and try to turn him into another "spokesperson" for Microsoft. Pathetic.

The kid is/was compensated to the tune of around $5,000 total. Not bad for the kid in my opinion