Hollywood mayor, Peter Bober, rejected by WIPO ...

[Vision]

A good reminder for people to register their birth names and namesakes...

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/communit...,3286353.story

Hollywood mayor's bid for personal Web domain hits a wall
Complaint to register a domain name fails; outcome not unusualBy

Ihosvani Rodriguez | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
January 24, 2009

As Hollywood Mayor Peter Bober tries to make a name for himself in the political world, it appears he's encountered a glitch in the Internet world.

During his election campaign in 2007, Bober tried to create a PeterBober.com Web site only to find out someone else owns the domain name. A lawyer by trade, Bober filed a complaint last October with the Switzerland-based World Intellectual Property Organization, which oversees domain name disputes.

In his complaint, Bober argued that "Peter Bober" was a common law trademark he uses as both a lawyer and a public servant. He also argued it sounds similar to his copyrighted "Bober & Bober, P.A., Attorneys at Law" — the law firm he runs with his wife, Samara.

The mediators weren't moved, and cited numerous cases to reject Bober's complaint, including a 2004 federal lawsuit filed by former Maryland legislator Robin Ficker.

Ficker complained someone was publishing disparaging articles about him on RobinFicker.com but he lost.

The names of businessmen and politicians are not protected, the group ruled.

Records show PeterBober.com is registered to "Peter Bober" of the National Institute for Mortgage Education, in California. The listed number is disconnected.

A number of local mayors have Web sites with their own names, including Fort Lauderdale Is your Fort Lauderdale restaurant clean? - Click Here. Mayor Jim Naugle, Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper, and Delray Beach Mayor Rita Ellis. Most use the sites for elections.

Davie Mayor Tom Truex owns Tomtruex.com, Tomtruex.org and Tomtruex.net, but he doesn't use them. He said he bought them after he joined the commission to prevent others from using them.

"I didn't want to become a cybersquatter victim," he said.

Bober shrugged off the cyber-rejection: he since has purchased PeterBober.net.

Ihosvani Rodriguez can be reached at ijrodriguez@SunSentinel.com or 954-385-7908.

[draggar]

WIPO ruling:

http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/d...2008-1668.html

Interesting and a very good lesson.

[dominator]

i thought he wanted hollywood .com

[Acquisition]

Great ! Nice to see politicians not being able to throw their weight around and put back in their place.

Good stuff.

[Domainate.com]

Wow - I better go and register SteveJones.com before I forget. Oh wait...

[ecomindia]

On the other side ,If politician cannot do it, will as simple man can imagine?

"Peter Bober" was a common law trademark -What he might have meant was "Peter" and "Bober"

" didn't want to become a cybersquatter victim" - if we all give this thought, small chunk of domainers will fade away.

[radioz]

It would be ridiculous if another person with the same name as a famous person has no right to own their own name. That should simply be a case of 'first come, first served' regardless of how famous the famous person is. The exception might be, of course, if they are feigning being the famous person such as was the case of 'KeithUrban.COM where the un-famous Keith Urban was selling his art and by default acting like he was the famous Keith Urban. That one still seems to still be playing out as the not so famous Keith Urban now has info about the cases progress on what still seems to still be his site currently..

[wussadotcom]

It would be ridiculous if another person with the same name as a famous person has no right to own their own name. That should simply be a case of 'first come, first served' regardless of how famous the famous person is. The exception might be, of course, if they are feigning being the famous person such as was the case of 'KeithUrban.COM where the un-famous Keith Urban was selling his art and by default acting like he was the famous Keith Urban. That one still seems to still be playing out as the not so famous Keith Urban now has info about the cases progress on what still seems to still be his site currently..

Agreed

[draggar]

Tell that to the politician named "Sam Adams" who used SamAdams.com - it's now owned by Samuel Adams (Boston Lager). Hmmm, I wonder what kind of pushing went on there? I can't find any news reports on it now, though.