Neowin.net

Thanks again to our friend Joe from Cnet|news.com for this entertaining read

As someone dealing with Microsoft on an almost a daily basis, I can attest that spokespeople and company marketing material too often stretch the truth. It's not unusual during an interview for me to have to ask the same question four or five times before getting a straight answer from a Microsoft spokesperson. I've had numerous shouting matches (OK, I was the only one yelling) with Microsoft PR reps or spokespeople over what I call "games of semantics."

So, I get really peeved when I see Microsoft taking liberties, as I would say the company did today, with marketing material. A fresh press release explains why "Windows-based PCs can participate in movies in ways never before imagined." The press release basically explains why "Users are likely to find the DVD experience on a Windows-based PC more rewarding than that of someone using a conventional DVD player." The press release goes on for about 800 words extolling the benefit--such as access to special commentaries or hidden content--of watching DVDs on Windows PCs. It's interesting, the press release never explicitly says people can only do all these cool things on Windows PCs, but that fact is certainly implied in the wording and emphasis of the sentences. Then there is the more basic assumption: Why would Microsoft issue a press release about DVD watching unless there is some news here?

View: View Joe's rant
News source: Joewilcox.com

The phrase, coined by former US navy pilot Harlan Ullman, was adopted by Washington to describe the fierce bombardment of Baghdad on the second night of the war - the military tactic designed to bully the Iraqi resistance into submission.

However, the crassness of the phrase was seized upon by critics of evidence of US arrogance in a war that the UN, and notably France and Russia, refused to support.

A spokesman for Sony PlayStation in the UK admitted the company might not stock the game in Britain and Europe owing to political sensitivities.

"Sometimes registering trademarks does not necessarily mean the product will be launched. But if it was deemed unsuitable then we might not ship it here," he said.

"If indeed it is related to the Iraqi war rather than just using that phrase then, yes, it might well be something we would be very sensitive to," the spokesman added.

However, the Sony game is only the tip of the iceberg as the US market is set to be flooded with goods ranging from T-shirts, toys, board games, train sets sunglasses, mugs and fireworks branded with slogans such as "Operation Iraqi Freedom" and "Battle of Baghdad".

But a British company is also planning a computer game, books, cards and magazines based on the war, called "Conflict Desert Storm II: Back to Baghdad".

SCi Games, part of computer games publisher SCi Entertainment, registered the title as a trademark in the US on February 25, having scored a hit with its original PlayStation and Xbox game, Conflict: Desert Storm.

Other goods planned for sale in the US include an "Axis of Evil" board game, "Iraqi Freedom" crockery and clothes as well as "Shock and Awe" trainers and dolls.

After September 11 2001 terrorist attacks, the US PTO was flooded with applications for trademarks for products bearing legends such as "the war on terrorism" and "remember the twin towers".

At the time applications were also been filed for products inscribed with the phrases "Osama, can you see the bombs bursting in the air?"; "Osama, Yo' Mama"; "9-11-01, lest we forget"; and "Operation Enduring Freedom".

The rush to make a quick buck from the attacks attracted widespread criticism from people concerned that companies were profiting from the tragedy.