I am originally from south Louisiana. There, it is common in the cajun culture to spell things with the long "O" sound as "eaux", just as a joke amoung the local people.

Today, after reading the story about mikerowesoft.com, I checked, and lo and behold micreauxsoft.com was available, so I grabbed it.

I figure this is a nice catchy name for a local market there...if I get to keep it!:D

I'll keep everyone posted, and if anyone has any advice for when the threatening emails come, let me know!

You're a glutton for punishment or attention, but have yet to figure it out. ;)

Well, it's not like I'm gonna fight them about it, but either way I will get mega exposure in my home area for it.

You may also get some crippling hits to your site :)
Buddy of mine owns a certain site that mikerowesoft.com designed, and today thanks to news articles LISTING that particular site, he got hit HARD :)

Well, I have a pretty healthy server, so I'm not too worried about that. I wouldn't think it would make national news, but I would see to it that it made local news for sure!

...and all these messages are excellent evidence to show in court that you were aware of the ramifications of what you were doing, and intended to use the MS trademark for your own gain.

You like giving money to lawyers?

LOL, whatever dude, if they ask, I'll give it up...but not before I get exposure in the local paper.

Besides, I am not using their trademark for anything, no one in their right mind will think I am associated with them.

I hope you like Bubba when you drop the soap.

what is Buba :P

Similar case behind the link.

http://news.zdnet.co.uk/business/legal/0,39020651,39119181,00.htm

but his name is Mike Rowe
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2004/01/19/317906.html

remninds me of mcdonalds.com the owner name was something mcdonalds and tehy couldn't take the domain away for trade mark.

AFAIK if the domain contains ur name they cant sue you, BUT also remind me of nissan.com which made him stop the website although his name is something nissan!

I know, I think it's disgraceful. To be fair, he surely must have been aware about the phonetic similarities between his domain name and microsoft, but still. I found the comment about Microsoft being worried it's customers would get "confused" insulting. I know I'm not that thick.

Leave the poor kid alone :(

Originally posted by Bashar
what is Buba :P

I am assuming timechange is referring to a big burly man in prison or something along those lines.


:stickout:

Bubba will 'love you long time'.... in prison. heh.

More seriously, your post here is just evidence as sightz said and will help them in their case against you if they ever decided to.

Wel, as I said before, if they ask for it, I will transfer it to them right away.

You would have to be from the area to understand. Have any of you ever seen the LSU fan who wave the sign that say " GEAUX TIGERS"? Same concept. There is even a local place there called Taceaux Belle. I know it seems strange to you, but it is a local culture thing.

If I get to keep the name, all the better, if not, no biggie, the big babies can have it, but not before the local papers print my site's name all over the papers...for free.

...but it wouldn't be your site by then.

I know, but I can easily redirect to my backup name while the story is big, and put an explaination about how big business is trying to muscle in on a small town site, it'll go over big in that area, which is already in an uproar about out of state businesses moving into their growing town.

Also, I have contacts at the local papers which will all but guarantee me an interview, where I can mention my descision to change the name to *****.com instead.

it is a good advertising stunt, I will give you that.

I'm not sure whether it actually might be legal to use the domain b/c it could be considered a spoof. I don't know if it's trademark infringement if it's unrelated fields and clearly a creative spelling.

On another point. I tried the domain but no webpage came up. :(

Why would you do this then post about it?