California Supremes To Decide If Domains Are Property

[braincells]

Here are the articles :

California Supremes To Decide If Domains Are Property

Supreme Court Asked to Decide Domain Name Conversion Issue

Court Punts Sex.com Domain Case

 

[dtobias]

Technically, it isn't... a domain name is actually a database entry in the registry, which you might have some contract rights over (subject to revocation for various reasons including the UDRP), but not anything you actually "own"... after all, you have to keep paying renewal fees or else it goes away.

 

[StockDoctor]

Actually, real estate isn't property either. It's also just a bundle of rights.

 

[dtobias]

...or phone numbers, or P.O. box numbers, or the street address of your home or business? All of those are identifiers in addressing systems, for which you have some expectation that they will continue to be maintained for you as long as you pay all applicable bills, but do you have a legally-enforceable ownership right in them? Sometimes the phone company will change your area code on you, or the city council will rename your street or renumber the city's street addressing system, and your address will change against your will.

 

[bidawinner]

Originally posted by dtobias
Technically, it isn't... a domain name is actually a database entry in the registry, which you might have some contract rights over (subject to revocation for various reasons including the UDRP), but not anything you actually "own"... after all, you have to keep paying renewal fees or else it goes away.

same with realestate "...after all. you have to keep paying the mortgage or else it goes away !