back to article Microsoft sues John Does for bilking search bribery machine

Microsoft has sued ten John Does for allegedly pilfering money from its search bribery machine. Last May, in a desperate attempt to catch the uncatchable Google, Redmond began bribing people to use its third-rate search engine, Live Search. If you used search ads to find and buy certain stuff, Redmond would return a portion of …

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  1. Chris C

    Fishing expedition

    "The particular case here relates to suspected fraudulent credit card use for purchases made in the Live Search cashback program. We've filed this John Doe complaint as a step in the discovery process to enable us to get additional information from third parties for our investigation."

    In other words, Microsoft admits that they don't know if there was any fraudulent activity. They admit that the only reason they are filing this lawsuit is that they hope it will reveal information which may indicate fraudulent activity. In other words, the very definition of a fishing expedition.

    Remember back in the day when you actually had to have proof BEFORE filing a lawsuit?

  2. Jeff F.
    Pirate

    Need Better Bean Counters.

    kind of a Rookie move in the program internal controls, huh?

  3. Richard Porter
    Joke

    Bing Cashback

    Surely it should be kerrr-Bing?

  4. DutchOven
    Thumb Up

    Ummm

    So another security hole for Microsoft but this time it hurts only them.

    What are the bets that this one is closed in record time?

  5. Dave
    Linux

    $5000 is my title

    Seriously, how man lawyer-hours does $5000 buy you these days ?

  6. Anonymous Coward
    Joke

    @Richard Porter - Surely it should be kerrr-Bing?

    and kerrr-plunk for vista

  7. Anonymous Coward
    Pirate

    Bing!

    as in Chandler Bing?

    Recent MS product associations:

    "I'd like a Mac but I can't afford it" advert.

    Seinfeld "always had a Mac on my show set." Thanks for the cash, Ha Ha.

    Dubious sitcom character from a decade ago, known mostly for his inadequacies.

    Excuse me Ballmer, I have a sharp stick you may want to examine closely and while aiming that gun at your lower extremities.

  8. Andus McCoatover
    Gates Horns

    Problem with this line...

    ...<<....and thereby obtained information from a protected computer>>

    Er, if protected, how did they obtain information?

    Oops, stupid me. It was protected with Voleware.

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