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Microsoft takes on teen over domain name
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Mike Rowe thinks
it's funny that his catchy name for a Web site design company sounds a lot like
Microsoft. The
software giant, however, is not amused. "Since
my name is Mike Rowe, I thought it would be funny to add 'soft' to the end of
it," said Rowe, a 17-year-old computer user and Grade 12 student in Microsoft
and its attorneys have demanded that he give up his domain name, the Rowe
registered the name in August. In November, he received a letter from
Microsoft's Canadian lawyers, Smart & Biggar, informing him he was
committing copyright infringement. He
was advised to transfer the name to the Redmond, Wash.-based corporation. "I
didn't think they would get all their high-priced lawyers to come after
me," Rowe said. He
wrote back asking to be compensated for giving up his name. Microsoft's lawyers
offered him $10 in U.S. funds. Then he asked for $10,000. On
Thursday, he received a 25-page letter accusing him of trying to force
Microsoft into giving him a large settlement. "I
never even thought of getting anything out of them," he said, adding that
he only asked for the $10,000 because he was "sort of mad at them for only
offering 10 bucks." He
said family and friends are backing him and a lawyer has offered to advise him
for free. He's
also keeping his sense of humor. "It's
not their name. It's my name. I just think it's kind of funny that they'd go
after a 17-year-old," Rowe said. Company
spokesman Jim Desler said Sunday, "Microsoft has been in communication
with Mr. Rowe in a good faith effort to reach a mutually agreeable resolution.
And we remain hopeful we can resolve this issue to everyone's satisfaction."
Jen -- |
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