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How Microsoft Takes a Name
An anonymous reader writes "According to a report in the "Seattle Post-Intelligencer," the Windows Defender name was already being used by an Australian developer, Adam Lyttle. His Windows Defender product protected Windows users from malicious Web sites. Adam Lyttle told the Post-Intelligencer's Todd Bishop that Microsoft contacted him a month ago, charging him with infringing on the Windows trademark but neglecting to mention that the software giant wanted to use the "Windows Defender" name. Lyttle subsequently signed over rights to the name to Microsoft and was "shocked" when he later learned the company intended to use the name for one of its own products. "
...so "yoink" is not the correct answer?
-Rob
Biblical fiscal responsibility
A rose by any other name is worth a million dollars to Microsoft.
Microsoft pwned this guy :/
3 MS stories in a row... I need my google/apple fix!!
Why can't Microsoft just change the name?
Since it is a security product from Microsoft, how about a name like:
Microsoft Maginot Defender
I'll see your senator, and I'll raise you two judges.
Three Microsoft articles in a row?
Please can we just have some stuff about Google or Linux? This is worse than dupes.
Classic case of bullying. But, even as a dumbass kid myself, I reserve the right to call this guy a dumbass kid -- If he's going to just hand over his property, potentially worth millions, he should at least have asked for $35 like that girl who designed the Nike Swoosh.
I support the separation of oil and state.
>Microsoft Maginot Defender
With a backdoor called Belgium?
Theres nothing like blasting away lots of purple , green ... But enough about running a virus scanner under Windows ,
and white mutants, pods and other strange evil things
I quite liked the 1980 video game Defender too.
I used to do consulting work installing and maintaining firewalls, and one of my clients insisted, over my objections, on having so many port forwards through his firewall that it was mostly worthless. Oddly, he never questioned my naming the firewall host "maginot." I suppose if he knew what that meant, he might not have continued paying me.
What's next? Can we expect to see Slashdot "editors" parroting the anti-science witchcraft nonsense that is used to promote such ideas as "condoms cause AIDS" becaus bill gates has donated a ton of money to combat AIDS in africa?
... call your stuff "Windoze Defender" or "Developer Studio for Micro$loth Windoze" or "FooBar Draw, Lose32 Edition". Everyone will know what you mean, but M$ is unlikely to steal your name...
Actually they took the last 3 articles, that wacky Microsoft PR team!
that gets exploited by Win32.Rommel
+1 fashionably cynical
Phew! I was planing on installing some new windows® on my house this weekend and I was starting to worry about the legalities at the hardware store.
where do the limits go.
The lawyer pulls the curtains, sweeps the room for bugs, then asks in a low voice, "Where do you want the limits to go?"
try { do() || do_not(); } catch (JediException err) { yoda(err); }
Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
Lyttle subsequently signed over rights to the name to Microsoft and was "shocked"
Man signs pact with devil. See how shocked he is when he realizes he's lost his soul! Film at 11!
"No problem. I have the capacity to do infinite work so long as you don't mind that my quality approaches zero."-Dilbert
Hey! I'm French (and by French I mean French-Canadian) and I take offense to that! But just so that we are clear, I don't want to start anything...So leave us alone!...Please don't hurt me...Ok here take it all!!!*runs away*
"he consulted with a law student and figured that the student knew everything there is to know."
Dumb, dumb, dumb...
Everyone knows they best source of free legal advice is Ask Slashdot
Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder.
.. it's time for him to start developing a Windows Attacker
I fuse with Mercer every single day...
What about "Microsoft never acts in good faith"?
Only on Slashdot would "ROFL" get modded +4 Insightful...
who in their right mind associates environmentalists with wrestling?
Anyone who saw the G8 protests on TV, for one thing...
See: The Simpsons (February 15, 1998) (Season 9, Episode 5F11)
- Bill Gates comes to "buy" Homer Simpson's Internet company CompuGlobalHyperMegaNet.
for further details
Possibly because only Slashdot allows you to mod things Insightful?