On last.fm: Interview with the mini mall rap guy!
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But seriously...
I hope the kid gets a good lawyer. Homophones like
"MikeRowseSoft" or "MightGrowSoft" are examples of
parody, and parody is protected by the first amendment.

Remember when Fox Newss sued Al Franken for using "fair
and accurate" in the title of his book? Fox lost and had to
pay Franken's legal fees. Their suit was frivolous, not
because "fair and honest" is an indefensible trademark (It
is, but that's not the point.), but because parody is
protected speech.

So it turns out we do have the right to make fun of people,
and Mike Rowe clearly had his tongue firmly in cheek when
he chose the name for his site. He obviously didn't intend
to misrepresent himself or mislead or defraud the public.
Any idiot can see he's not Microsoft. He was making a joke.
A play on words.

If that's not protected speech, nothing is.
Posted by: Immanuel Tranz-Mischen   Posted on: 01/20/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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DMCA *Copyright* infringement  Nigel Johnstone | 01/20/04
DMCA does not apply here  d_jedi | 01/21/04
So they should let anyone do it?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 01/20/04
Bit?  Cardinal_Bill | 01/20/04
So you assume the "kid" was stupid?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 01/20/04
Psychologists call this "projection." (NT)  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 01/20/04
Stupid no, but it is his name  voska | 01/21/04
except...  pschroeder@... | 01/21/04
Mike Rowe should resigiter his new domain as...  stephen732@... | 01/27/04
RE: So they should let anyone do it?  gigglypuff | 01/20/04
So you think all "kids" should learn this?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 01/20/04
script kiddie? Do you even know what that term means?  B.O.F.H. | 01/20/04
Answer the question if you dare.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 01/20/04
You used a spacific term with a spacific defeinition!  B.O.F.H. | 01/20/04
Sure.  d_jedi | 01/21/04
Name violation  OhMyGosh | 01/22/04
This benifited this kid  voska | 01/21/04
Sorry, I meant trademark.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 01/20/04
Right concept, poor execution  tic swayback | 01/20/04
Why was it insulting?  rapson | 01/20/04
Good question!  No_Ax_to_Grind | 01/20/04
Not a good question  FamilyManFirst | 01/20/04
I think you are wrong.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 01/20/04
No, you're wrong..  d_jedi | 01/21/04
Wrong (yet again) bitty  Rick_K | 01/21/04
Better answer!  d_jedi | 01/21/04
"Insulting" may not be the right term  IT_User | 01/20/04
Motives  rapson | 01/20/04
See my post to AX below for Motive (NT)  Squawkbox | 01/21/04
Motivation  tic swayback | 01/21/04
A question IT...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 01/20/04
Unfair question, Axe  IT_User | 01/20/04
On that we agree.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 01/21/04
An answer, bit..  d_jedi | 01/21/04
Making an example  tic swayback | 01/21/04
You may be right.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 01/21/04
try what  JWatson77 | 01/21/04
Insulting..  d_jedi | 01/21/04
Insulting and disingenuous  tic swayback | 01/21/04
Wrong!  voska | 01/21/04
Hey Ax don't faint we agree  Squawkbox | 01/21/04
Fair settlement suggestion  Domb2 | 01/21/04
$10  pschroeder@... | 01/21/04
yeah  JWatson77 | 01/21/04
smiles  darohu | 01/20/04
Microsoft should sue his parents.  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 01/20/04
But seriously...  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 01/20/04
parody?  pschroeder@... | 01/21/04
Parody  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 01/21/04
parody, redux.  pschroeder@... | 01/21/04
Glossorrhea  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 01/21/04
persuasion not necessary  pschroeder@... | 01/22/04
two faced Microsoft  jellyclock | 01/21/04
YES - Let's be clear  Garry Anderson | 01/21/04
Validity of Case  Domb2 | 01/21/04
Nope..  d_jedi | 01/21/04
Nissan  pschroeder@... | 01/21/04
Trademark Overreach  Garry Anderson | 01/22/04
no disagreement here  pschroeder@... | 01/22/04
Say what?  OhMyGosh | 01/22/04

What do you think?

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