google Fight for domain names escalates - TheNewsTribune.com (subscription)

[Adam Dicker]

Fight for domain names escalates
TheNewsTribune.com (subscription), WA - Jul 28, 2007
In the past, Internet speculators claimed famous-sounding or popular domain names in the hopes of selling them to corporations for thousands or millions of ...


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[Bill Roy]

The 'reasons' given by these companies really annoy me, statements such as 'sell counterfeit goods' is a total sham on their part. They just do not want anybody else to have a name that is even similar to theirs, even if that company has been trading longer than they have! The bottom line is that they want the law to make the internet a haven ofr their abuse of size and power, anybody who steps on their toes should be crushed by the weight of the law. And who is to decide when a name is 'similar' to one of theirs? Is there going to be a carefully worked out strategm that produces an algorithm that says domain 'xxuwyzzquto.com' breaches the law but 'xxuwyzzqutp.com' does not?

Strange isn't it that the press love bashing domainers as 'cybersquatters' but at the same time says nothing about the loss of rights of the individual to register a domain (and I mean worldwide). It is also interesting that this organization is targeting 'national' law makers in the US and not ICANN, the international body responsible.

My tip to them is: Work at making TM law sensible and workable and forget your bully boy tactics.

[Simsi]

The key is branding. If you'd spent thousands or millions of $$ to build up a brand and someone was trying to take advantage of that and grab traffic or profit from it, you'd be a bit miffed too I suspect.

Personally I can understand it, but it's a different story if the "squatter" isn't trying to profit from the brand, dupe visitors or attract traffic that was otherwise intended for it. Or worse still, if they had the domain name before the brand was TM'ed. That's just tough luck on the brand owner and they should have done their homework.

[DavidAusman]

Yahoo joins the crowd, but then they serve ads to typo domains

[Bill Roy]

Simsi, I agree with you. It is just the stupid reasons they give to try and get public sympathy. A bit like a thief stealing goods from your home and when questioned saying 'well I did it for the owners benefit, they do not have to insure them anymore'! Pathetic excuses which just show what little respect these companies have for the mentality of the average Joe in the street.

TM law needs a major overhaul, unfortunately it does not seem to be on the cards.