tunaplanet 0 #1 January 21, 2004 Clicky I think this is hysterical. I hope this kid wins. I think he has a good case. It is, afterall, his own fucking name, lol. This is his website in case anyone cares. Forty-two Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
downwardspiral 0 #2 January 21, 2004 um website and clicky are same url cool story thowww.FourWheelerHB.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
downwardspiral 0 #3 January 21, 2004 that was quickwww.FourWheelerHB.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #4 January 21, 2004 Yeah I remember reading about it earlier today. I hope the kid sticks it to 'em too. So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #5 January 21, 2004 Unfortunatley, the kid is way outgunned and he's goin' down. The way trademark law works is that if the tradmark owner, in this case a registered nationally registered trademark owner with billions of dollars behind it, can argue that there could be a confusion in the mind of a reasonable consumer in the use of the name -- they win. Period, end of discussion. Because the name sounds like "Microsoft" it's going to be pretty easy for them and almost impossible for the kid. Now, is Mircrosoft smart in doing this the way they're doing it? Not really. It would have been far less expensive for them to have paid the kid the $10,000 he wanted, but have a non-disclosure agreement saying he couldn't say anything about the deal. My guess is they've already spent more than $10,000 in legal and admin fees already. We used to deal with this sort of crap all the time at the place I used to work. Sure, if millions are at stake it makes sense to fight, 'cause the big company will almost always win, but if it's just a small time lawsuit, sometimes it's just way easier to pay it off and run away.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tunaplanet 0 #6 January 21, 2004 Well that's why we have a judicial process. Will be interesting to see what happens. Forty-two Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fudd 0 #7 January 21, 2004 If Microsoft wins this case, there must be something wrong with the world. His NAME is MIKE ROWE. It's not like he's doing any sort of domain scam here. The website looks nothing like Microsofts. Maybe M$ don't like that it's running on a linux server. To offer him $10 for the domain, that's an insult! There are only 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary, and those who don't. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tunaplanet 0 #8 January 21, 2004 This will most likely be settled outside of court. My guess is that they will pay this kid an undisclosed amount of money and he will change the site's name. Forty-two Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
