News UPDATE: Microsoft to take over MikeRoweSoft.com

From CNN:

[i[SEATTLE, Washington (AP) -- A Canadian teenager whose Web site address bothered a certain giant software company will find a new home on the Web, Microsoft Corp. said Friday.

Mike Rowe, a 17-year-old resident of Victoria, British Columbia, has agreed to pick a new name for his Web site, currently called www.mikerowesoft.com, said Microsoft spokesman Jim Desler.

Mike's father, Kim Rowe, confirmed that his son had struck an agreement with Microsoft. Rowe said his son could not be interviewed Friday because he had to study for final exams.

Mike also is working feverishly to put together a new Web site, his father said.

Desler said Microsoft would cover Mike's costs of changing to a new Web site and redirecting traffic from the old site. Microsoft also had agreed to help the teen get Microsoft certification training and other gifts, including an Xbox game console, he said, and has invited Mike to a technology festival in March at the corporation's headquarters in suburban Redmond. [/i]

More here...


It's good that an amicable agreement was reached without getting into court action. I love that he was given an xBox, but there's no mention of any games!

 

Talk about stingy *******s! Anyway, I think it's absolutely hillarious that microsoft went so "out of their way" with those out of the pocket expenses for Mike. Makes you wonder what went on in those private disscussions

 

His old domain currently forwards to his new one at: mikeroweforums.com, but won't forever. I'm actually quite impressed at how Microsoft changed the force of its demand, and is actually helping Mike set up the new site, has given him a ton of free stuff and hopes to get him through some of their certification schemes.

They could've just sued him for all he had, which probably isn't much. At least they admit their original action was a bit out of hand.

 

Kinda makes you wish you'd thought of it. Great way to get free certifications, an Xbox, and a foot in the door.

I like how his mom said he couldn't be interviewed because he was busy studying for finals...ROFL

 

Has anyone registered mikerowesoft.co.uk yet

 

There are still some yet to be registered. Some have already been registered and no doubt they will be hounded my m$

I see this as a bad out come. Mike Rowe obviously didnt set the site up to undermine the microsoft name and it has no connection other than phoenetically.

Would ebay go after www.ebaiy.com

 

Not to mention the free publicity he gets! Getting your URL mentioned next to that of Microsoft really gets your site going, I presume .

Look, there are about 1500 users online at the moment!