Microsoft to eBay name for $1m

That's Microsoft Lda, we hasten to add

By Lester Haines • Get more from this author

Posted in Financial News, 17th December 2007 15:19 GMT

Free whitepaper – Thermal design of Dell PowerEdge server

Portuguese outfit Microsoft Lda aims to cash in on its name by eBaying the brand and business for a starting price of $1m, Reuters reports.

The company registered its title locally in back in 1981, long before Microsoft Corp penetrated the Portuguese market. Since the Beast of Redmond is accordingly not allowed to call itself Microsoft in the land of fado and pasteis de nata, it lurks behind the MSFT moniker.

Microsoft Lda CEO Ricardo Carvalho said today: "MSFT has said it was interested in our brand name but needed more time to discuss the matter. We have held talks with them in the past and didn't want to wait for them anymore."

The auction kicks off on Wednesday, according to Reuters. Look forward to aggressive bidding from ebayer "basherballmer1" (feedback "100% Positive" from office furniture vendors). ®

Free whitepaper – Migrating to the new Dell Management Console