Mike Rowe Soft (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=817&ncid=757&e=10&u=/ap/20040119/ap_on_fe_st/microsoft_unhappy)

What the blue hell does it hurt for a little web design site to have a similar name? It's not like he's dipping into their oversized wallet :rolleyes: That company gets more and more on my nerves all the time...

If they didn't own everything I'd boycott their products. I should change that to if I didn't get hacked versions of their software I would boycott them

In November, he received a letter from Microsoft's Canadian lawyers, Smart & Biggar, informing him he was committing copyright infringement.
Smart & Biggar, hm? Did they purposely look for a law firm with a name like that? :p Cocky play on words, or mere coincidence...

:lol: I was too busy thinking of what assclowns they are to notice that :lol: I think it's more likely option 1 there :p

There is a flipside to this that most people aren't aware of. By law, if they had not filed notice on him, Microsoft would have stood the chance of losing their trademark.

How could Microsoft have lost their trademark? The guy spelled it as his own name. It's not like it spelled it similarly and tried to overtake their trademark, or pass himself off as Bill Gates or something. I think it's just silly.

It's pretty simple really. It is all about phonetics. For instance, if someone were to start a web site called 'zerox.com', even though it isn't spelled the same, it holds the same meaning and can damage a trademark. If a trademark becomes generic in its meaning, then the company can lose their rights to it. Silly or not, it is the law.

Ahhhh!!! Thank you, Shakey, for explaining that. I wonder what was here first, Microsoft or Mike Rowe? Unfortunate name, I guess. :lol: He's probably got some brothers named Death, Front, and Corn.

LMAO, Val!

I think Microsoft would do good to offer a job to Mike Rowe Soft. It might make everyone happy in the long run.

Unfortunate name, I guess. :lol: He's probably got some brothers named Death, Front, and Corn.
:lol::laugh::lol: Don't forget his long-haired cousin Skid. ;)