Microsoft takes on teen's site MikeRoweSoft.com
 

I heard on NPR this morning that Microsoft is offering the kid $10 to give up the name. He is holding out for $1000.

Hope it doesn't affect MS's stock!

This is potentially bad PR for Microsoft, and they're only offering $10? Its probably Canadian $10 too! They should give the kid the $1,000, and not look like a heartless monopoly.

I thought it was for $10,000. Did you see what the lawfirm that is representing Microsoft? Smart & Biggar!!! You can not make this up.

Oh, that's fantastic!

I suppost the partners are Ura Smart and Ima Biggar.

Thought they said $1000 -- either way it sounds really cheap and petty for a company the size of Microsoft.

Give the kid at least $50,000!!!!!!!!

lol this is too funny

yea, with a domain name like "mikerowesoft" it might confuse potential customers or something! :p

Seriously, with a company THAT BIG with THAT MUCH MONEY, you would think they would offer more.

I think it's pretty funny they are going after a 17-yr-old kid

So they pay some lawyers $10000 to offer a kid $10.

Someone should be fired.

Anyone know if GHEYNATION.com is a registered domain???

You have big issues.

-Rudey

Ew.

www.ghetnation.com is available.

i can understand in some ways where microsoft is coming from in requesting that he turns over the domain name.. bc when you tell someone a website address well the two would sound just alike..

i think only offering $10 is a little stupid. I dont understand paying the guy a huge amount bc then that would be the kid taking advantage of the situation knowing that he would get a big settlement the more he complains bc well thats just bad PR.. but any PR is good PR i guess in some sense..

(not that i am too biased towards microsoft since my boy works for them.. i mean they do treat their employees great and have a very fun picnic for everyone in the summer on top of many things)

haha u always crack me up

My Crows are Soft
 

January 23, 2004 - Mike Rowe settlement

This just in ... Microsoft has reached an agreement with Mike Rowe, the Canadian teenager who was using the Web site mikerowesoft.com in alleged violation of the Microsoft tradmark. Here are the details, as relayed to us by Microsoft spokesman Jim Desler. In exchange for Mike turning over the mikerowesoft.com domain to Microsoft, the company has:...

http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/m...es/001313.html

Although it really doesn't cost Microsoft much out of pocket, it's really a fairly creative settlement. Not bad.

Basically they gave him something that cost them less than 1,000 and a bunch of worthless certificates.

-Rudey

MCSE training can go for up to 5g

Your mom goes for 6.

-Rudey

An article in the paper here yesterday said Microsoft was offering him a tour of the Microsoft facilities with his parents, they would pay for his courses to get certified in Microsoft products, he was going to get an X box with some games, and I think something else but I can't remember.

So I guess Lady Pi Phi must have me on ignore?
 

:confused: Errr.... you could read the article linked to on page 1, that might jog your memory.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...&category=2312

-Rudey

Re: So I guess Lady Pi Phi must have me on ignore?
 

Errr...bite my ass!

This was written in a subsequent article after the initial offer by Microsoft. Unfortunately, I can't post a link to the article because this is a small Toronto newspaper that does not post back issues of the paper on the web, so I can't give you the article.

Next time, try not to be such a smart ass!

The reason I posted the above comment with the subject 'I guess Lady Pi Phi must have me on ignore?' and the emoticon which is used to signify 'confused' (when selected) was that your message was restating what I said, it seemed not very nice and I thought am I the invisible man and felt a bit surprised!? :)
Nevertheless, the confused smiley notwithstanding I think the comment came across as an attack and I apologise to you Lady Pi Phi for that. It wasn't intended as one!
At the time I didn't know you hadn't seen my post which supplied the article; in any case I shall remember that tone doesn't come across so well on the 'net and try to be more careful with what I type in future.

-Richard

so the kid gets all that shit from MS . . . then a quarter mil high bid on his legal transcripts? Wow.


He's a total gomer too, judging by the photo on ebay. good for him, take the money and run.

He looks like an Icy Hot Stunta.

$20.5MM. This is a joke because I can't see anyone paying that much for this crap.

-Rudey