Written by: Jack Son

Benny Brown, a local man from the small town of Maple Creek, is making headlines for suing Microsoft for copyright infringement. Brown, now in his late 60s, claims that he invented the popular dance move known as “Powerpoint” back in the late 70s and that Microsoft used the name without his consent.

“I used to perform my dance move at local clubs and people would always ask me what it was called. I told them it was the Powerpoint and it caught on,” Brown recalls. “I had no idea that decades later, Microsoft would use my name for their software.”

Brown also claims that he was familiar with someone who worked for Microsoft in the early days of the company and believes that the name was taken from his dance move. “I remember talking to a guy named Bill who worked there and he would always come to see me perform. I think he must have seen the name and thought it would be a good fit for their software,” Brown says.

According to Brown’s legal team, the dance move and the software share several key similarities, and Microsoft’s use of the name has caused confusion and misattribution in the public eye. “The Powerpoint dance move involves a person pointing with brutal force, which is similar to the way the software works,” explains Brown’s attorney.

This case has sparked a heated debate about the true origins of the name Powerpoint and the extent of Microsoft’s influence on the technology industry. Many are eager to see how the court will rule on this matter and whether Brown will finally receive the recognition he believes he deserves. Regardless of the outcome, this case highlights the importance of protecting one’s ideas and intellectual property. It serves as a reminder to all inventors and creatives to carefully consider their rights and to take legal action if necessary The Microsoft attorney went on to say that the claim was “wholly unfounded and without merit”. He stated that the software known as Powerpoint was created by the Microsoft Corporation and was never associated with any individual or dance move. He also emphasized that Microsoft has a strong track record of protecting its intellectual property and will fight this claim vigorously in court.

Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, weighed in on the matter with a statement of his own. “I was always working back in those days, day and night. I honestly never met this man. And have you seen me dance at the Windows 95 launch? You can clearly see I have no talent for dancing, let alone attempting an advanced move like the Powerpoint.” Brown’s wife Annie is furious. “I’ve been married to Benny for 40 years now. I remember him doing the Powerpoint in the local discotheques. People went crazy when he was dancing and pointing his finger in the air.” She feels like the big tech company is taking away her husband’s legacy. “We will take this matter to court and we are certain that we will win this case” she continues.  “We will not settle for less than six figures. We hope Microsoft will do the right thing.” 

The case is ongoing, and Benny and Annie, seem determined to prove their point in court. However, many legal experts are skeptical of his chances.