Godaddy Domain Registrar
DNForum - Domain Sales, Domain Forum, Domain Appraisals, Domain Registrars
HomeForumRegisterGetting StartedDomain ToolseBooks/ArticlesDomain Resellers AffiliatesMemberships Advertise

Go Back   DNForum - Domain Sales, Domain Forum, Domain Appraisals, Domain Registrars > Domain News, Beginners Guides and Legal Stuff! > Legal Issues
Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Closed Thread
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 02-03-2006, 02:20 PM   #1 (permalink)
Telling it like it is
 
sasquatch's Avatar
 
Last Online: 12-06-2007 11:02 PM
iTrader: (0)
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,108
DNF$: 1,954


Americans stealing .EUropean virtual properties?

Americans Bob Martin, Stuart Rabin, Marc Ostrofsky and the rest of their IREIT gang are stealing all the greatest .EUropean domains from Europeans themselves by using their phantom company (with a London address) called "First Internet Technology Ltd" through which they claim to have .EU (more specifically Netherlands domiciled) trademarks and therefore rights to all these domains:

(Note: data collected from http://www.whois.eu/ )

ads.eu
adsl.eu
art.eu
ask.eu
betting.eu
blackjack.eu
books.eu
broadband.eu
business.eu
camps.eu
cellphone.eu
chocolate.eu
chocolates.eu
computer.eu
computergames.eu
creditcards.eu
dating.eu
debt.eu
diet.eu
diets.eu
domains.eu
email.eu
euro.eu
euros.eu
fashion.eu
finance.eu
free.eu
freegames.eu
furniture.eu
game.eu
games.eu
hotel.eu
hotels.eu
jewelry.eu
love.eu
map.eu
maps.eu
mobi.eu
mortgage.eu
movies.eu
news.eu
poker.eu
rent.eu
roulette.eu
search.eu
seo.eu
software.eu
sports.eu
summercamps.eu
tickets.eu
travel.eu
vacation.eu
watches.eu
weather.eu
weightloss.eu
autoinsurance.eu
autotrader.eu
betonline.eu
car.eu
carhire.eu
carinsurance.eu
carloan.eu
carrental.eu
cars.eu
casino.eu
casinos.eu
cellular.eu
cellularphone.eu
cruise.eu
cruises.eu
diamond.eu
diamonds.eu
dietpill.eu
digitalcamera.eu
domainnames.eu
freeporn.eu
gay.eu
gays.eu
gold.eu
golf.eu
golfclub.eu
golfcourse.eu
golfequipment.eu
golfholiday.eu
holiday.eu
holidayinsurance.eu
homeinsurance.eu
homeloan.eu
job.eu
jobs.eu
laptop.eu
mobilephone.eu
mobilephones.eu
money.eu
mortgageloan.eu
motorinsurance.eu
music.eu
mutualfunds.eu
onlinebank.eu
onlinecasino.eu
onlinedating.eu
onlinedegree.eu
onlinepoker.eu
phonecards.eu
photo.eu
photographer.eu
photography.eu
porn.eu
porno.eu
printers.eu
ringtone.eu
ringtones.eu
securedloan.eu
travelinsurance.eu

Since they have been already accepted and granted rights for such valuable domains like Game.eu and Games.eu (and many others from this list),I guess my question is who is playing stupid here and why? Is it possible that out of so many applications for the same name, the one that always wins surely belong to those with deepest pockets, irregardless of their supposed (true) location and nationality?
__________________
No Joke Newsflash Here - PM ME IF YOU WANT TO BE NOTIFIED AT THE LAUNCH OF MY UPCOMING BLOG!
sasquatch is offline  
Sponsored Links
Old 02-03-2006, 02:27 PM   #2 (permalink)
The One
 
VisualDigits's Avatar
 
Name: Lukas
Last Online: 01-11-2009 02:59 PM
iTrader: (39)
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,913
DNF$: 726
Location: New Jersey
Country:


Re: Americans stealing .EUropean virtual properties?

What would you expect? Money is power!
__________________
VisualDigits is offline  
Old 02-03-2006, 04:07 PM   #3 (permalink)
High Traffic Domains
 
Dimva's Avatar
 
Last Online: Today 06:09 PM
iTrader: (54)
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,390
DNF$: 251
Location: www


Re: Americans stealing .EUropean virtual properties?

This sucks, people like these guys should go to jail.. They using fake identity to get premium domains.. I only hope that Eu registrars stops frauds like stated and give the domains to rightfull owners.
__________________
Dimva is offline  
Old 02-03-2006, 04:31 PM   #4 (permalink)
DNF Member
No Avatar
 
Name: Aaron
Last Online: 09-02-2008 03:00 AM
iTrader: (9)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 312
DNF$: 100
Location: Vancouver
Country:


Re: Americans stealing .EUropean virtual properties?

thats like saying no foreign person can own a .us ...this is the world we live in get used to it, our complaining won't do anything.
__________________
ProTraffic.net-Quality Targeted Visitors
ArcadeGems.com-Play Free Games
LazyD is offline  
Old 02-03-2006, 04:59 PM   #5 (permalink)
Account Terminated
No Avatar
 
Last Online: 10-31-2006 06:34 PM
iTrader: (15)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,098
DNF$: 5,319


Re: Americans stealing .EUropean virtual properties?

It's about time they got some good names.....I mean their website is iReit.com....try telling that to someone on the street and see if they ever find it. They are also going for those chocolate names again....millions of people care about chocolate I guess. They have a bunch of investors who put up millions and then they buy the names....stuff that monkeys could do.

I hope they make some noise though because when it comes to domains ALL PUBLICITY IS GOOD PUBLICITY....even Go-Daddy commercials.

This domain party is just getting started! I bought a name on this board a few months ago that I just turned down 5K for.....and I sell names to end users for thousands that sometimes don't even get bids here.....just keep buying good names and everything will work out.
WhoDatDog is offline  
Old 02-03-2006, 05:01 PM   #6 (permalink)
Telling it like it is
 
sasquatch's Avatar
 
Last Online: 12-06-2007 11:02 PM
iTrader: (0)
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,108
DNF$: 1,954


Re: Americans stealing .EUropean virtual properties?

Quote:
Originally Posted by WhoDatDog
It's about time they got some good names.....I mean their website is iReit.com....
Hahaha,

OUCH! %+|
__________________
No Joke Newsflash Here - PM ME IF YOU WANT TO BE NOTIFIED AT THE LAUNCH OF MY UPCOMING BLOG!
sasquatch is offline  
Old 02-03-2006, 05:17 PM   #7 (permalink)
Platinum Lifetime Member
 
MrDude's Avatar
 
Name: Paul Rogers
Last Online: Today 10:21 AM
iTrader: (10)
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,244
DNF$: 0
Location: UK
Country:


Re: Americans stealing .EUropean virtual properties?

No matter what the US citizens still beleive, Just because they are not allowed, Its not right and I hope it backfires on them. Im going to personally contact eurid about every false application I can find
MrDude is offline  
Old 02-03-2006, 07:25 PM   #8 (permalink)
Wot
DNF Addict
 
Wot's Avatar
 
Last Online: Today 06:22 PM
iTrader: (19)
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,803
DNF$: 4,591
Country:


Re: Americans stealing .EUropean virtual properties?

Yep, eurid and their toothless administrators Price Waterhouse have really had the wool pulled over their eyes - it is becoming a bigger joke everyday.

Just check whois eurid.eu and you will see than nearly every generic name has been allocated via these fabricated tm's- scandalous!
__________________
India.ind.in,Geography.info , VURL.com,TimorLeste.tl,บาท.com
TajMahal.co.in,Seychelles.com.sc,搞笑.cn,北京.biz,红旗.com
Wot is offline  
Old 02-03-2006, 07:44 PM   #9 (permalink)
Platinum Lifetime Member
 
mark's Avatar
 
Last Online: 06-28-2009 07:51 AM
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 936
DNF$: 674
Location: Colorado
Country:


Re: Americans stealing .EUropean virtual properties?

Interesting..............wondering how many challenges to the registrations will be filed?

Last edited by mark; 02-04-2006 at 05:17 AM..
mark is offline  
Old 02-03-2006, 11:46 PM   #10 (permalink)
DNF Regular
 
NameYourself's Avatar
 
Last Online: 06-26-2009 11:23 PM
iTrader: (19)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 830
DNF$: 4,630
Location: World


Re: Americans stealing .EUropean virtual properties?

Quote:
Originally Posted by mark
Ineresting..............wondering how many challenges to the registrations will be filed?
Probably a lot. However, if they decide in the first few cases upon extensive review and analysis, etc.. that it should go to someone else, everyone else will jump on the bandwagon and start challenging every other word out there, resulting in an absolute mess that I'm sure they don't want to or maybe don't even have the resources to deal with. They could even risk facing lawsuits from the original claimant to the name if they later decide it would be better suited with someone else. In such cases of generic words, I'd be willing to bet that challenges against generic words will not be won.

Also, in order to do this they had to get EU TMs on those generic words.. how is that possible? For instance, in the US you can TM a generic word, but it must be used for a product or service type that is not in an industry related to what the word means as a generic word.

Last edited by NameYourself; 02-03-2006 at 11:49 PM..
NameYourself is offline  
Old 02-04-2006, 01:37 AM   #11 (permalink)
DNF Addict
 
Ed30's Avatar
 
Last Online: 07-03-2009 04:26 AM
iTrader: (44)
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,688
DNF$: 5
Country:


Re: Americans stealing .EUropean virtual properties?

It's naive to suggest these trademarks are false. There are ways and means. They know the EU couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery. I say best of luck to them.
Ed30 is offline  
Old 02-04-2006, 05:36 AM   #12 (permalink)
Wot
DNF Addict
 
Wot's Avatar
 
Last Online: Today 06:22 PM
iTrader: (19)
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,803
DNF$: 4,591
Country:


Re: Americans stealing .EUropean virtual properties?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ed30
It's naive to suggest these trademarks are false. There are ways and means. They know the EU couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery. I say best of luck to them.
Interesting definition of fraud, though god forbid anybody may be guilty of that :

A deception deliberately practiced in order to secure "unfair" or unlawful gain.

All in the eye of the beholder.
__________________
India.ind.in,Geography.info , VURL.com,TimorLeste.tl,บาท.com
TajMahal.co.in,Seychelles.com.sc,搞笑.cn,北京.biz,红旗.com
Wot is offline  
Old 02-04-2006, 06:11 AM   #13 (permalink)
DNF Addict
 
Ed30's Avatar
 
Last Online: 07-03-2009 04:26 AM
iTrader: (44)
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,688
DNF$: 5
Country:


Re: Americans stealing .EUropean virtual properties?

Where's the fraud?
Ed30 is offline  
Old 02-04-2006, 08:11 AM   #14 (permalink)
DNF Addict
 
mole's Avatar
 
Last Online: 03-03-2009 09:05 AM
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 6,721
DNF$: 978
Location: Tonga
Country:


Re: Americans stealing .EUropean virtual properties?

Okay, the Europeans can now steal .US :-D
__________________
If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties. Sir Francis Bacon
mole is offline  
Old 02-04-2006, 09:26 AM   #15 (permalink)
Platinum Lifetime Member
 
mark's Avatar
 
Last Online: 06-28-2009 07:51 AM
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 936
DNF$: 674
Location: Colorado
Country:


Re: Americans stealing .EUropean virtual properties?

mole: lol
mark is offline  
Old 02-04-2006, 10:11 AM   #16 (permalink)
Exclusive Lifetime Member
No Avatar
 
Last Online: 06-01-2006 10:46 AM
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 12
DNF$: 241


Re: Americans stealing .EUropean virtual properties?

Guys - Bob Martin - CEO of iREIT here. I appreciate the posting. Two things that I'm happy to certify:

1) iREIT has 0% ownership in any .eu names.
2) iREIT spent $0 on the .eu lottery.

Personally, I’m not sure that the time, effort and money spent on the .eu trademark lottery registration was a good investment holistically (but time may prove me wrong). (e.g. Because I'm not a believer in these domains from an investment perspective, nothing that I'm involved in, in any management / equity / ownership capacity made any investment in any .eu names).

As a note, we've purchased over three dozen portfolios and spent sizable sums of money on domain investments. We're always looking to purchase additional portfolios, and I welcome any direct comments to bmartin@ireit.com.
__________________
Sites in development:
www.AfricanAmericans.com

Last edited by rwmartin99; 02-04-2006 at 10:34 AM..
rwmartin99 is offline  
Old 02-04-2006, 10:21 AM   #17 (permalink)
** Mr. Pink **
 
StockDoctor's Avatar
 
Last Online: 05-10-2008 02:45 AM
iTrader: (62)
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,979
DNF$: 5,300
Location: Dartmouth
Country:


Re: Americans stealing .EUropean virtual properties?

Quote:
Originally Posted by rwmartin99
Guys - Bob Martin - CEO of iREIT here. I appreciate the posting. Two things that I'm happy to certify:

1) iREIT has 0% ownership in any .eu names.
2) iREIT spent $0 on the .eu lottery.

Personally, I’m not sure that the time, effort and money spent on the .eu trademark lottery registration was a good investment holistically (but time may prove me wrong).
Hi Bob Thanks for posting, and welcome. You're input and commentary will prove interesting I'm sure.

On the thread topic, do you or your partners, or any afiliated companies to you, your partners or Ireit have any involvement at all in regging .eu names? Also, it sure would be great if Marc could pop in too, and maybe comment about his participation and super success in previous landrushes.
__________________
Arrest Bush & Cheney Petition by Brattleboro Vermont USA

www.ArrestBushPetition.com
StockDoctor is offline  
Old 02-04-2006, 10:58 AM   #18 (permalink)
Exclusive Lifetime Member
No Avatar
 
Last Online: 02-15-2008 10:41 PM
iTrader: (16)
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 147
DNF$: 339


Re: Americans stealing .EUropean virtual properties?

I emailed Bob to pop in and post a reply as I know that he would not invest in EU for now .
pamela is offline  
Old 02-04-2006, 11:32 AM   #19 (permalink)
Telling it like it is
 
sasquatch's Avatar
 
Last Online: 12-06-2007 11:02 PM
iTrader: (0)
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,108
DNF$: 1,954


Re: Americans stealing .EUropean virtual properties?

Quote:
Originally Posted by rwmartin99
Guys - Bob Martin - CEO of iREIT here. I appreciate the posting. Two things that I'm happy to certify:

1) iREIT has 0% ownership in any .eu names.
But your phantom "European subsidiaries" (like "First Internet Technology Ltd." and "First European Technology Ltd." have (once these domains are fully granted to your subsidiaries by Eurid.)

In fact "First European Technology Ltd." lists Marc Ostrofsky of IREIT as contact, so I fail to understand how can you claim otherwise with such a straight face?

Quote:
Originally Posted by rwmartin99
2) iREIT spent $0 on the .eu lottery.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rwmartin99
Personally, I’m not sure that the time, effort and money spent on the .eu trademark lottery registration was a good investment holistically (but time may prove me wrong). (e.g. Because I'm not a believer in these domains from an investment perspective, nothing that I'm involved in, in any management / equity / ownership capacity made any investment in any .eu names).
???

"First European Technology Ltd." listing Marc Ostrofsky at IREIT as contact is listed as TM applican and .EU domains applicant in sunrise period for all those names posted previously. Furthermore Eurid accepted "First Internet Technology Ltd." as having valid claims on most of those domains, and FirstInternetTech.com (left as a contact email with Eurid) had IREITHOST.COM nameservers (and IREITHOST.COM lists you as an administrative contact) until today when they were somehow mysteriously changed to "marchex.com"!?

So allow me to be frank for a moment, and ask why are you playing dumb here?
__________________
No Joke Newsflash Here - PM ME IF YOU WANT TO BE NOTIFIED AT THE LAUNCH OF MY UPCOMING BLOG!

Last edited by sasquatch; 02-04-2006 at 11:36 AM..
sasquatch is offline  
Old 02-04-2006, 04:27 PM   #20 (permalink)
Philadelphia Lawyer
 
jberryhill's Avatar
 
Last Online: 06-26-2009 09:31 PM
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,760
DNF$: 5,259


Re: Americans stealing .EUropean virtual properties?

chocolate.eu

Applicant
Name Ostrofsky Marc
Organisation First Internet Technology Ltd
Language English
Address 7 Chalcot Road
NW1 8LH London
United Kingdom
Phone +448.70068941
Email marc@ireit.com

Quote:
Two things that I'm happy to certify:

1) iREIT has 0% ownership in any .eu names.
2) iREIT spent $0 on the .eu lottery.
Two things that nobody asked, you mean.

To the original poster and some of the people screaming "fraud" - There is absolutely nothing wrong with forming corporations in Europe, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with filing trademark applications in Benelux. Anyone who had looked at the rules for .eu names understood that taking those two steps were all that was required to apply for .eu names. The Benelux trademark system does not work the way the US trademark system does. If you have a problem with that, then your problem is with the people who wrote the rules, not with the people who followed the rules.
Quote:
In fact "First European Technology Ltd." lists Marc Ostrofsky of IREIT as contact, so I fail to understand how can you claim otherwise with such a straight face?
He didn't "claim otherwise". What he did was a common thing that people who think they are clever often do in order to dodge a subject - say something that is very specifically true.

You can take it to the bank that the things he said numbered 1 and 2 above are likely to be absolutely and impeccably true. But if your question was intended more loosely as "are these guys applying for .eu names using one or more EU corporations and one or more Benelux TM applications?" then the answer is certainly yes, as anyone can determine from looking at the .eu whois data.
__________________
John Berryhill Ph.d., esq.
John-AT-johnberryhill.com
Please do not send private messages via dnforum.com, email me directly.
jberryhill is offline  
Closed Thread


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:41 PM.
Copyright @2001-2009 DNForum.com