he got ripped off (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=857&ncid=757&e=10&u=/nm/20040124/od_uk_nm/oukoe_tech_microsoft_teen)

I wouldn't say he got ripped off. It looks like he got something for nothing to me.

I think it is a little stupid of MS, but I don't see it really putting the kid out. And he is not out any money.

I'm glad to see that MS has decided to help the kid out, rather than bulldoze him into the ground, like most Big Business corps. try to do! :cheers:

I wouldn't say he got ripped off. It looks like he got something for nothing to me.

That's exactly it! Good to know that extortion still works in our society...

Maybe he could call his new site Mike Rowe Hard. :lol: How did an Xbox and games come into this? I thought the kid wasn't doing it for profit....

He managed to get something for nothing, not bad, considering he was able to do this with a slight play on his name. I'm surprised Microsoft played such hardball and just didn't ignore it, but if they paid him off , they would have several copycats following. :)

He wouldn't have gotten something for nothing if Microsoft kept their mouths shut and left the kid alone in the first place... they brought it on their own heads, so they deserve having to pay the kid off... even if it's just perks :p

Not bad. I'd have held out for more :p

I think he made out pretty well. Like XXX, I would have also held out for more. :p

I'm so greedy :devil: :D

Nope, no one will ever convince me that this guy didn't have his eyes on a jackpot from the start! It appears that he is now selling his legal documents that microsoft sent him on e-bay. Take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Here is his full blurb...

This is your chance to own a piece of Internet history. This is the book shown on TV, Internet, magazines and talked about on the radio and seen by millions of people world-wide. I am selling the WIPO book with the 25-page letter I received from Microsoft's lawyers on January 14/2004. I have two copies of these and I will be keeping one for my own personal memoirs. This inch-thick book contains copies of web pages, registrations, trade marks, other WIPO cases, emails between me and Microsoft's lawyers and much more. There are 27 annexes filled with information. This package also comes with the 25-page complaint transmittal coversheet that was sent with the inch-thick book. In this letter you can find policies, rules, supplemental rules, model responses, copy of complaint and much more. Take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity.

The really sad thing is that as of 9:42 PM, the highest bid is already at $11,100. Nice way to whore yourself! :rolleyes:

Just in case anyone actually wants to look at it, you can check it out here - Mike Rowe on e-bay! (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3382073018)

Oh, boy. He's a little extortionist, ain't he? They should have asked for those documents to be sealed, shouldn't they have?

I say good for him! I wouldn't think this way if Microsoft hadn't started the whole thing, being bullies. It wouldn't hurt them to be taken down a peg. Besides, you know they are going to sue him over this anyway...I'm not sue happy by any means. We are a far too litigious society, but sometimes, I like to see the big shots take it on the chin.