Teen who battled Microsoft donates defense fund to charity

VICTORIA, British Columbia (AP) — A teenager who tangled with Microsoft over his Internet domain name has donated most of his legal defense fund to a hospice for terminally ill children.

Mike Rowe said Monday the $7,000 (US$5,250) he gave to Canuck Place came from scores of people around the world after Microsoft threatened him with legal action over his Internet domain name, www.mikerowesoft.com.

Supporters donated about $8,000 (US$6,000). Rowe kept $1,000 (US$750) to apply to his university education and received $1,300 (US$975) from an eBay auction of his legal papers.

Most of those who responded to an Internet poll favored giving the leftover money to charity over making refunds.

The battle was joined briefly in January when Microsoft sent Rowe a 25-page letter that accused him of copyright infringement and threatened legal action.

Rowe and Microsoft settled amicably with the software giant agreeing to provide the teen with an Xbox and other gifts, help him get Microsoft certification training and cover the cost of changing the domain name and of redirecting traffic from the old site.

As of Wednesday morning his Web site could be accessed at either the old domain name or at www.mikeroweforums.com.

Rowe said he hopes to attend the University of Victoria this fall.