Passing oneself off as an MVP ?

[David Cox]

is it an offence to pass oneself as an MVP?

 

[Tom Lake]

is it an offence to pass oneself as an MVP?

There's probably no legal penalty for it but it's a trademark
of Microsoft so I suppose you could be in trouble from them
if you use it without permission.

Tom Lake, NMVP, NIMR, RAL (Non-MVP, Nelson Institute for Marine Research,
Real Acronym Lover)

 

[David Cox]

is it really a trademark?

bringing a trademark into disrepute? Hmmm

using a Hotmail account to do it? Hmmm again.

Does "Microsoft" derive from small and soft?

Questions, questions ...

 

[Ken Snell \(MVP\)]

Microsoft will take actions (I cannot specify what they are, sorry) for
people impersonating an MVP in the newsgroups or elsewhere. MS has already
been notified about these recent postings by the person who is not an MVP.

 

[Brendan Reynolds]

I think the answer is 'it depends' David. I don't think I should say more
about exactly what it depends on, because I don't want to give anyone any
ideas about 'how to pass yourself off as an MVP and get away with it', you
know?

One thing you can be sure off - Microsoft employ a *lot* of legal advisors!

 

[BruceM]

Glad to hear it. I suspect that the term MVP by itself is not proprietary,
but in combination with company and product names it may become so. It is
certainly a misrepresentation.

 

[David Cox]

I don't want to give anyone any

ideas about 'how to pass yourself off as an MVP and get away with it', you
know?

Aw, come on ... just for me? :->

I will now let the matter proceed without me ...

 

[Warren]

Whilst on the topic, I LOVE MVPs (among the others in these groups).

This year, my self education has excelled exponentially. So much of
that has come from the regular names that come to mind - Rick, Allen,
Albert, Stephen...

So thank you Microsoft for the MVP initiative, and thank you MVPs for
being M.V.Ps - I can see why you are!

Warren

 

[aaron.kempf]

I am not an Microsoft MVP.

I never claimed to be.

I am an Access ADP MVP.
I patented the phrase with the US Patent Office.

-Aaron

 

[dbahooker]

sorry I meant to say I trademarked it.

and I've got pre-existing use of the phrase from an attorney back from
Latvia; I found a kit where I could register these trademarks.

When Microsoft stops the adp misinformation; when Microsoft stops
catering to babies that are too retarded to learn ADO / ADP-- that is
when I'll consider laying down my arms.

-Aaron