Blogcritics: Comments on And what makes you think Microsoft is a bully?

Comment by Mark Saleski

Tue, 20 Jan 2004 15:37:48 EST

because www.mysoftware-isacceptible.com doesn't have that certain je ne sais crois.

Comment by bhw

Tue, 20 Jan 2004 15:17:23 EST

Besides, Gates started out writing languages, like BASIC and FORTRAN. So we could go on forever asking why he didn't name the company "microlang" or something.

Comment by TDavid

Tue, 20 Jan 2004 12:08:13 EST

An operating system is a piece of SOFTware, BB :)

Comment by BB

Mon, 19 Jan 2004 23:06:21 EST

Ok TD - so why didn't MS call itself MicroOps? After it all it started out as only an operating system. If Mr. Rowe had named it micro_soft, or something like that then clearly it would have been a rip-off. But he is using his own name. Perhaps Billy should have used a computer to come with a completely original name - like EXXON perhaps.

Comment by TDavid

Mon, 19 Jan 2004 17:30:13 EST

I do think Microsoft has behaved like a bully numerous times in the past, but not in this particular case. If you read a lot of the things he is quoted as saying, they just don't make any sense. If he actually developed software then he might have a scintilla of a case, but his best course of action would be to run over and register mikerowedesign.com, as he should have done in the first place ;)

Comment by BB

Mon, 19 Jan 2004 16:30:11 EST

Isn't this a little like the pot calling the kettle black? MS is the major exploiter in the biz. Name me one first it has ever come up with? DOS, IE, Windows - all are knock-offs of others innovation. Litigation such as this is not about right or wrong, black and white. It is about intimidation. McDonald's does the same thing. Even if a name is only remotely similar they will protect their intellectual property vigorously. Most cases like this are settled out of court. Bottom line is Mike Rowe will end up with free publicity and money in his pocket for his trouble.

Comment by jadester

Mon, 19 Jan 2004 11:50:34 EST

i remember reading somewhere that homophones are covered by trademark protection - hang on, no, it's covered by business registration (at least here in england, dunno about other countries) i was looking into what you have to do to register a company. In the regularions/laws/whatever they're called that cover company names, you're not (supposed to be) allowed to register a company name: that is almost identical (there might have been a specific definition but i forget) i.e. identical except for one or two letters that is actually identical (duh) that sounds exactly the same when spoken now, this last point probably as all sorts of extra notes and probably could be argued over almost forever in court, but seeing as MS have rather more money to spend on lawyers, plus the fact that they have a fiercely-protected business image, i'd have thought the kid wouldn't be so stupid. Maybe if he'd called it Mike Rowe Software i'd have a little more sympathy (or if his company actually was in software design/engineering/support/etc., as opposed to web design) The problem is that so many people DO try and leech off big companies' success by pulling stunts like this, so when someone does it more innocently they get treated the same.

Comment by bhw

Mon, 19 Jan 2004 11:17:22 EST

Does trademark protection cover homophones? MikeRoweSoft is not the same word as Microsoft. They just sound the same.