Free Book Giveaway Question

The question, I believe, is fairly simple: what do Microsoft and Corbis have in common? (See rules of engagement if you forgot them.)

I will close comments at the end of the day. The winner would need to give me some kind of a shipping address within the U.S.

They are both owned by the same man. (Bill Gates KBE)

And here is some more now that I think about it. Both websites use ASP.NET technologies. Both companies have gotten in trouble for violating the Freeny patent(paying for downloaded content). Both are big players for Digital Rights Management (DRM). ... Can't think of anymore.

I would have said Dan's first answer, but had no idea about his second. Is that it? Sounds pretty good to me.

Oddly, It's not quite that simple.

You can't say the Bill Gates "owns" both, as Microsoftis a public company which has many owners (including me, owner of 120 shared of MSFT).

And you can't really say that Bill Gates is the principal stock holder of each, as I believe, Corbis is a privately held company which Gates owns outright.

Both are owned by Bill Gates

Both company names contain the letters "c" "o" "r" "i" and "s". Both are companies with headquarters in the US. Both appear on this specific web page. I have visited both company websites. Both company names start and end with consantants. Milan knows of a specific simiarity between these two companies. That's all I can think of without resorting to a Google search. :-)

Dan: Sshhh, we don't talk about Microsoft's litigation problems here (just kidding).

Carl: Wow, that's an interesting observation!