Any time I read about someone "not being aware" of an idea already when they made something up my first thought is always Google. I've got no sympathy for anyone who claims they didn't know but something can be found simply on Google. Due diligence requires at least an attempt is made to discover previously-existing expressions of an idea, and clearly whichever marketing rep thought Gamer Dad would be a good name for a column didn't do his part to make sure someone else wasn't already using it.

Something similar to this happened during the filming of the Borat movie... A woman in charge of scheduling guests was contacted by Sasha Baron Cohen's people and asked if they would like Borat to appear (and he did, making some pretty rude and inappropriate comments during a live broadcast). The lady got fired and now complains that Sasha Baron Cohen was the reason she got fired, when in reality she took the word of some random person on the phone regarding the identity of a person she intended to put on live TV. If anyone's googled the name Borat they know how easy it is to find out that the Borat character is used for some pretty offensive humor.

BlitzFitness brings up the real head-scratcher. If Xbox KNEW the name was out there and copped it anyway, why would they back down so readily, even at the threat of a lawsuit? (Microsoft has more attorneys on retainer than Bub has hairs on his head.). But it's hard to imagine they DIDN'T know about it, given Bub's visibility.

My guess is they knew but caught so much flak from potential customers (Bub readers) that they reversed field.

Much to my discontent, there are not only others with the screen name of grahamr, but people in real life as well.

While Andrew and his site are recognized at a certain level, that level may not include the more mainstream aspects of Microsoft. Marketing people tend to be marketing people, regardless of whom they work for. Just because they work for the game division of a company doesn't mean they really have clue one about games or the community that support them.

Next. Is GamerDad trademarked? I'll lay odds it's not. That's where a legal search would have likely started and ended. They should have checked for websites, so they missed the right course of action there. But when confronted with the issue. MS chose the correct course of action and renamed their site and apologized.

Lawsuit? Microsoft legal doesn't scare that easy. It's important to remember that MS takes on countries and unions of countries in their regular course of business AND they they go after kids with sound-alike websites. If MS wanted a fight on the matter, there would be a fight.

Hi folks, I gotta say, this headline scared me today. I thought it was happening AGAIN! Anyway, it's over and I'm glad, but you guys brought up some good questions and I like GamePolitics, so here are some answers....

Anyway, to answer your questions:
1. Porcaro is the PR guy yes, but he had nothing to do with the decision. I found it uncomfortable that the one guy over there who handled things well (he mentioned me in the announcement about the Xbox column) was the one who had to phone me to apologize. I felt bad for him. Wasn't his fault and I'd have preferred to hear from someone responsible for the decision. I have a long history with Microsoft (I've been a professional reviewer in this biz since 1996).

2. GamerDad is trademarked in web, print, and book form. It's not just a website, it's a role and personality and I'm published under the name in Family Fun magazine, in the book PopCulture, I'm interviewed in the upcoming documentary film "NERDCORE" and I've appeared on television, as a guest speaker at the Penny-Arcade Expo, and I've conducted lectures locally in Wisconsin (at PTA meetings, etc.,) as GamerDad. I've also appeared in over 50 news stories under that name. Also, I'm actively pursuing a GamerDad book deal.

3. I've been approached by businesses wishing to buy the website and the trademarked name, but so far I haven't been willing to compromise enough to take a deal. Hey ECA! You acquired GamePolitics! Call me! ;-)

4. I wish XBox Dad luck and this was never about me not wanting competition. It's only about something I own. A name and the role behind it. Other than that, anything that helps parents is a good thing. Even if it comes from Microsoft Marketing.

That's about it really. Glad it's over, happy this story is just a retelling of the tale, and I'm confident it won't happen again. You guys are right, I may have owned the mark, but there's no way I could have beaten MS in court. Not without a LOT of donations. Glad it didn't come to that.

Back to work, if you have kids in your life, play some games with them. Just be careful about the content. Games aren't bad. Bad parenting is bad.

Andrew S. Bub
-GamerDad

Thefremen
you need to add to your name so you can be resposiable for the rep of it :3

I had to add DSM then lee to my Zippy name now its mine and mine alone.....0_o

Hello webmaster...Thanks for the nice read, keep up the interesting posts..what a nice Thursday . Sasha Cohen