Gordon: So what do you want to do today?
Elliot: I dunno, what do you want to do?
Gordon: Ummm…want to play some Xbox?
Elliot: Naah, we’ve been playing all morning…my thumbs hurt.
Gordon: Want to do some legal stuff?
Elliot: Legal stuff? I guess we should.
Gordon: We could sue someone?
Elliot: Yeah, we haven’t done that in awhile. Who do you want to sue?
Gordon: How about that little software company that develops software that barely resembles a Microsoft product?
Elliot: Naah, too hard, got anything easier?
Gordon: How about this kid’s website in Canada? Calls it mikerowesoft.com.
Elliot: Does he develop software?
Gordon: No, creates websites, has a message board, nothing that could actually threaten the company.
Elliot: But mikerowesoft.com…that sounds a lot like the name of our company’s website, doesn’t it?
Gordon: Wait a minute…micro…mikerowe…it sure does! We wouldn’t want any of our valued customers to be confused would we?
Elliot: Heck no! Confused valued customers are bad.
Gordon: You’re absolutely right! We’ve got to put this fire out real quick like!
Elliot: I’ll get the paperwork together!
Gordon: I’ll put on a pot of coffee!
Elliot: Oh and Gordon?
Gordon: Yes Elliot?
Elliot: I love you.
Gordon: Umm…O.K.

Gotta love those big corporations. Any possible threat to the sanctity of their empire and bang! They’re on the problem like flies on a decomposing donut. The big question I ask myself is what exactly was the threat? Here’s this 17 year old Canadian kid who just happens to have a name so very similar to this mega corporation and thinks to himself, “You know, wouldn’t it be cool if my websites name was mikerowesoft.com?” You’ve got to admit it’s kind of funny and what would be the harm? Well I guess someone at Microsoft didn’t think so, because they sent their lawyers after him guns ablazin’. Using underhanded legal techniques, Microsoft’s lawyers duped Mike into demanding a large sum of money to give up the site therefore establishing that he only created the site for the purpose of profit and not for his own personal use. Microsoft Fed-Exed the legal papers and Mike went to the press. Good move on Mike’s part because Microsoft eventually settled the dispute to avoid negative press and he got an X-Box and some other Microsoft goodies out of the deal. But was any of this really necessary?

What would have happened if the bulldogs in Microsoft’s legal department took a bit more time to analyze the situation? Took a couple steps back and thought about the possible ramifications of proceeding with legal action. Hey, here’s a thought. What would have happened if they did, oh I don’t know, nothing at all? Did they actually think that some hick from Mudlick would actually confuse this kid’s site with Microsoft.com? How could anyone even find the site accidentally? Unless they’re some dumbass with no comprehension of the English language and actually misspelled Microsoft in their website googling, they never would have found it, never. The kid would eventually give up the site and no one would have been the wiser. No negative press, no wasted effort, no problem.