Who do we contact with suggested name for 'Longhorn'

[CJSnet]

We have a particularly strong idea for the final product name of Microsoft
'Longhorn'. My company already deals with product concept development of
this nature, and our idea works on so many levels that it is too strong for
us to ignore and not forward to Microsoft.

Please can you advise how we should go about setting up an initial NDA
(non-disclosure agreement) and who the very best and correct person is to
contact at Microsoft, in order to get this potential name into the right
hands.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Chris Lanier]

How to Contact the Microsoft Wish Program
http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...port/kb/articles/Q114/4/91.asp&NoWebContent=1

 

[CJSnet]

Thanks. Was looking for something two-way, rather than one-way, meaning I
don't want to just send the suggestion and have them use it without
compensating me

 

[Chris Lanier]

Hi, i would think Microsoft already has a company or someone inside the
comapny they pay to come up with names. Microsoft Wish is your best choice,
you are not going to get a conversation with anyone high enough up that it
would matter.

 

[William Gower]

You could always call Bill Gates directly at 1-800-IAM-RICH.

 

[CJSnet]

Hi, i would think Microsoft already has a company or someone inside the
comapny they pay to come up with names. Microsoft Wish is your best choice,
you are not going to get a conversation with anyone high enough up that it
would matter.

I'll take that as a challenge! Oh yes I will!

Their department hasn't come up with the name I have. What I need to know
is the name of the Manager of that department.

 

[Gary Tait]

We have a particularly strong idea for the final product name of Microsoft
'Longhorn'. My company already deals with product concept development of
this nature, and our idea works on so many levels that it is too strong for
us to ignore and not forward to Microsoft.

Please can you advise how we should go about setting up an initial NDA
(non-disclosure agreement) and who the very best and correct person is to
contact at Microsoft, in order to get this potential name into the right
hands.

Thanks in advance.

Why? Longhorn is production code name, not the release name. I'm sure
their marketing folks can come up with something on their own, without
having to PAY and outside company to name it on spec.

 

[David Candy]

They don't look at it and if you send it in without their request they take all rights to it (they don't want to know).

They've changed it slightly

UNSOLICITED IDEA SUBMISSION POLICY.
MICROSOFT OR ANY OF ITS EMPLOYEES DO NOT ACCEPT OR CONSIDER UNSOLICITED IDEAS, INCLUDING IDEAS FOR NEW ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS, NEW PROMOTIONS, NEW PRODUCTS OR TECHNOLOGIES, PROCESSES, MATERIALS, MARKETING PLANS OR NEW PRODUCT NAMES. PLEASE DO NOT SEND ANY ORIGINAL CREATIVE ARTWORK, SAMPLES, DEMOS, OR OTHER WORKS. THE SOLE PURPOSE OF THIS POLICY IS TO AVOID POTENTIAL MISUNDERSTANDINGS OR DISPUTES WHEN MICROSOFT'S PRODUCTS OR MARKETING STRATEGIES MIGHT SEEM SIMILAR TO IDEAS SUBMITTED TO MICROSOFT. SO, PLEASE DO NOT SEND YOUR UNSOLICITED IDEAS TO MICROSOFT OR ANYONE AT MICROSOFT. IF, DESPITE OUR REQUEST THAT YOU NOT SEND US YOUR IDEAS AND MATERIALS, YOU STILL SEND THEM, PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT MICROSOFT MAKES NO ASSURANCES THAT YOUR IDEAS AND MATERIALS WILL BE TREATED AS CONFIDENTIAL OR PROPRIETARY.

 

[CJSnet]

Thanks David, but;

1) Where did you get this? URL would help.

2) "Unsolicited" is not what I am after. I want the contact name that I
can send an NDA requesting their permission to submit an idea, thus making
it 'solicited'.

Microsoft have given me 2 contact points at the Corporate Office so it looks
like they are open to it. I'm following those up, but any other info would
be appreciated.

Thanks again.
--
CJSnet

(Remove TEETH to reply by e-mail.)

They don't look at it and if you send it in without their request they take
all rights to it (they don't want to know).

They've changed it slightly

UNSOLICITED IDEA SUBMISSION POLICY.
MICROSOFT OR ANY OF ITS EMPLOYEES DO NOT ACCEPT OR CONSIDER UNSOLICITED
IDEAS, INCLUDING IDEAS FOR NEW ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS, NEW PROMOTIONS, NEW
PRODUCTS OR TECHNOLOGIES, PROCESSES, MATERIALS, MARKETING PLANS OR NEW
PRODUCT NAMES. PLEASE DO NOT SEND ANY ORIGINAL CREATIVE ARTWORK, SAMPLES,
DEMOS, OR OTHER WORKS. THE SOLE PURPOSE OF THIS POLICY IS TO AVOID POTENTIAL
MISUNDERSTANDINGS OR DISPUTES WHEN MICROSOFT'S PRODUCTS OR MARKETING
STRATEGIES MIGHT SEEM SIMILAR TO IDEAS SUBMITTED TO MICROSOFT. SO, PLEASE DO
NOT SEND YOUR UNSOLICITED IDEAS TO MICROSOFT OR ANYONE AT MICROSOFT. IF,
DESPITE OUR REQUEST THAT YOU NOT SEND US YOUR IDEAS AND MATERIALS, YOU STILL
SEND THEM, PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT MICROSOFT MAKES NO ASSURANCES THAT YOUR
IDEAS AND MATERIALS WILL BE TREATED AS CONFIDENTIAL OR PROPRIETARY.

 

[CJSnet]

If you were Microsoft, and you had a name in mind, then someone came along
with a better name, would you pay for it? Or perhaps you're saying they
can't afford it

 

[David Candy]

http://www.microsoft.com/info/cpyright.htm
Ask for the product manager. Don't tell the receptionist why.

 

[Larc]

| If you were Microsoft, and you had a name in mind, then someone came along
| with a better name, would you pay for it? Or perhaps you're saying they
| can't afford it

That's the problem. They can't afford it. Only three of the ten richest men on
earth are connected to Microsoft, a very poor representation you must agree. In
fact, Scrooge & Marley — oops, make that Microsoft — is losing so much money and
is so poor it can't even afford to pay dividends to its stockholders. ;-)

Larc



§§§ - Please raise temperature of mail to reply by e-mail - §§§

 

[Guest]

Yeah, right. The name has already been decided.

----- CJSnet wrote: -----

We have a particularly strong idea for the final product name of Microsoft
'Longhorn'. My company already deals with product concept development of
this nature, and our idea works on so many levels that it is too strong for
us to ignore and not forward to Microsoft.

Please can you advise how we should go about setting up an initial NDA
(non-disclosure agreement) and who the very best and correct person is to
contact at Microsoft, in order to get this potential name into the right
hands.

Thanks in advance.

 

[William Gower]

A bit of conceit on your part to think that you have the product name of all
names and that without it Microsoft can't sell their product or will not
have as good of a sales for it. Unfortunately the way the computer world
goes these days Microsoft could call a product Product A and have
manufacturers bundle with their computers and would still make money.
Whether we like it or not, many companies are tied to Microsoft products.
It's not the name that sells the product but the functionality and the fact
that it works so well with other products from the same vendor.

 

[CJSnet]

I'll agree to disagree as I don't wish to argue the point here, I just want
to contact Microsoft for *their* opinion. I have a lot of contact points
now, thank you.

 

[CJSnet]

Can you elaborate please. When, by who, what is it, URL to where you read
this.

 

[Gary Tait]

Thanks David, but;

1) Where did you get this? URL would help.

2) "Unsolicited" is not what I am after. I want the contact name that I
can send an NDA requesting their permission to submit an idea, thus making
it 'solicited'.

They mean unsolicited/solicted on their part. Quite simply, they never
asked you. If they specifically asked you out of the blue, that would
be solicited.

 

[Gary Tait]

If you were Microsoft, and you had a name in mind, then someone came along
with a better name, would you pay for it? Or perhaps you're saying they
can't afford it

No. Elimnates all costs with regards to ownership rights to the name.
IMO, the product would sell for what it is, and to a certain degree on
the strength of the marketing campaign, which a purchased element may
not have an effect on sales.