Microsoft, not satified with the public whipping they just
received from the Justice Department, has seized an
opportunity to get even more bad press. In April 2000
Microsoft launched a web site called DigitalDiva.com, aimed
at people who are too stupid to use computers and enjoy
reading content on a web site that talks down to them. It
didn't seem to matter that the name DigitalDiva.com was
already in taken in 1997, was trademarked, and was actively
used by a group of women who work with computers
and the internet.
Last Christmas eToys.com tried to stomp out
the eToy.com artist's site, even though
eToy.com existed far before eToys.com. The result? A net-wide scream of rage,
people refused to shop at eToys, and lots of negative publicity for eToys.
The Digital Divas were founded in
1997. Through use and publication of that name, the group acquired trademark
rights in the name, including the domain name digitaldivas.com where their
website has been located since June 1998.
The Digital Divas web site features a 'zine where their members publish
articles, tutorials and advice about computers and the Internet.
The Divas have sent Microsoft a "cease and desist" letter, asking M$ to stop
using their name, but so far Microsoft has refused to stop using it. In fact,
Microsoft hasn't even responed to the Divas at all, preferring to ignore them
in the hope that they'll go away.
