Posted April 14th, 2008 at 11:58pm
The mind boggles. It really does. Anyhow, you might have heard about a fellow known to the internet as "Zune Tattoo Guy" - for the tattoo of Microsoft's Zune logo on his shoulder. Gizmodo reports that he also wants to legally change his name to "Microsoft Zune" and is currently seeking Microsoft's permission to do so. He recorded his call to Microsoft to inquire about the matter and, in an uncharacteristic display of forethought, decided to record the call and share it with the world via Youtube. As an aside, I am wondering if one needs to ask for permission from a company to use their trademarked words as your name. If someone wanted to call their building "Zune Plaza" or their business "Zune Photocopying", I believe that's a clear matter of trademark ownership and it's obvious in which direction the butt-kissing needs to take place. But your name? It seems to me that a person should be entitled to call themselves whatever they wish because your name is not, by nature, a brand (yes, I know your brand can be your name, but the inverse is not true). Kind of makes me scratch my head wondering whether or not it's a good idea to give Microsoft the message that it's up to them what you want to name yourself... and if Mr. Zune decides to get too legal about it then he's going to start establishing precedent. It just makes me wonder, that's all. Oh btw, make sure you
idiot, microsoft, zune