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REDMOND, Washington--January 4, 1995--In response
to
customer inquiries, Microsoft today clarified the
naming
policy for Bob(tm), its
new software product
designed
for
computer beginners. Contrary to rumors, Microsoft
will
not
demand that all persons formerly named "Bob"
immediately
select new first names.
"I don't know where these rumors come from,"
commented
Steve Balmer, Microsoft Executive Vice President
for
Worldwide Sales and Support. "It's ridiculous to
think
Microsoft would force
people outside the computer
industry
to change their names. We won't, and our
licensing policies
for people within the industry will be so
reasonable
that
the Justice Department could never question them."
Balmer said employees of other computer companies
will
be
given the opportunity to select new names, and will
also be
offered a licensing option allowing them to
continue
using
their former
names at very low cost.
The new licensing program, called Microsoft TrueName
(tm),
offers persons who want to continue being known by
the
name
Bob the option of doing so, with the payment of a
small
monthly licensing fee and upon signing a release
form
promising never to use OpenDoc. As an added bonus,
Bob
name
licensees will also be authorized to display the
Windows 95
logo on their bodies.
Persons choosing not to license the Bob name will
be
given
a 60-day grace period during which they can select
another
related name. "We're being very lenient in our
enforcement
of the Bob trademark," said Bill Newkom,
Microsoft's
Senior
Vice President of Law and Corporate
Affairs. "People
are
still free to call themselves Robert, Robby, or
even
Rob.
Bobby however is derivative of Microsoft's
trademark
and
obviously can't be allowed."
Microsoft also announced today that Bob(tm)
Harbold,
its
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating
Officer,
has
become the first Microsoft TrueName licensee and
will
have
the Windows 95 logo tattooed to his forehead
...
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