Microsoft Snubs Enthusiast Sites

[AmpCoder]

On January 7, Microsoft enthusiast Dave Ciccone woke up to find a surprising message in his e-mail inbox: a veiled threat from the company he has evangelized for almost 5 years.

"Microsoft has received information that the domain listed above, which appears to be on servers under your control, is offering unlicensed copies of, or is engaged in other unauthorized activities relating to copyrighted computer programs published by Microsoft," the legal letter said.

"We hereby give notice of these activities to you and request that you take expeditious action to remove or disable access to the material described above, and thereby prevent the illegal reproduction and distribution of this software via your company's network."

Ciccone runs Dave's iPaq, a popular Windows mobile technology site that has been in operation since 2000. According to Ciccone, he has "done nothing but promote Microsoft's products at my own financial expense." What caught Microsoft's attention, however, was a posting with information on Windows Mobile 2005, the upcoming version of Windows for handheld devices.

Dave's iPaq was not the only site to carry the insider information, which included screenshots of the new Windows Mobile software. The details were originally reported by Windows enthusiast site Neowin, which then in turn was picked up by technology blog Engadget and finally Ciccone's site.

The Apple case could have far reaching consequences for the Windows enthusiast community as well. In a recent interview with Microsoft Watch, Neowin's Tom Warren said, "I'd expect Microsoft is looking closely at the current case with Apple and Think Secret. If Think Secret does lose the case, this could mean bad news for Neowin and blogging, in general."

Site: BetaNews

Edited February 2, 2005 by AmpCoder

[xxpor]

Go Mr. Magoo (Y) :p

[AcdShdw]

damn them!!!

[Favvi]

i read the article, so what does this all mean? :unsure:

[RadishTM Veteran]

Go Mr. Magoo (Y) :p

585399052[/snapback]

You mean Creamhackered ;)

Radish?

[Hurmoth]

I hope really hope Think Secret wins this :angry: I would hate to see the day when a Judge slaps the First Amendment!

The people Apple should be suing is those who leaked the information, those covered by a damn NDA, not the ones who report the leaks :crazy:

Anyway, go Tom (Y)

[ZZOOzzoo]

I hope really hope Think Secret wins this :angry: I would hate to see the day when a Judge slaps the First Amendment!

The people Apple should be suing is those who leaked the information, those covered by a damn NDA, not the ones who report the leaks :crazy:

Anyway, go Tom (Y)

585409838[/snapback]

Um... say what? :wacko:

[tomwarren Veteran]

heh they quoted me again :)

[Guol]

well that pretty much sucks :yes:

[botalpha]

Microsoft's legal department needs something better to do with it's time and money.

[Hurmoth]

Um... say what?  :wacko:

585422635[/snapback]

If you read the article, you'll understand what I was saying ;)

[galoosh33]

heh they quoted me again :)

585427442[/snapback]

lol. cool.

[..Vector..]

heh, go you (Y)

[L3thal Veteran]

heh they quoted me again :)

585427442[/snapback]

Isn't that exciting? :p

[trance]

The site(s) were leaking info about a product that was not released. MS is well within their legal rights to ask him to take down the material.

[shrike]

meh. Everybody should just move to Linux, or other "free" OS, and be done with it! :rofl:

[xxpor]

You mean Creamhackere;);)

Radish?

585399074[/snapback]