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Candy Co. Sues Fargo Woman Over Web Site
(AP) Fargo, N.D. A Red River Valley candy company known for its chocolate-covered potato chips says a woman is using the Internet to steal profits by confusing consumers.
Widman's Candy Co., which has stores in Fargo, Grand Forks and Crookston, Minn., filed a federal lawsuit Monday against Jacqueline Knutson of Fargo and Cafe Chocolat, alleging that Knutson is violating Widman's trademark rights.
The complaint said Knutson has registered domain names "identical or confusingly similar" to the Widman's Web address. The practice, known as "cybersquatting," is illegal, the complaint said.
Knutson did not return phone messages left Monday at Cafe Chocolat.
Knutson's Web site "purports to represent a direct connection with the Widman family, going so far as to depict a picture of the original family store" in Grand Forks, the complaint said.
The lawsuit also alleges that Knutson has attempted to register the name "Chippers," the name Widman's uses for its chocolate-covered potato chips.
Widman's is seeking unspecified damages and a temporary restraining order to prevent Knutson from using names that may confuse consumers with the Widman's site.
The Widman's Web address is carolwidmanscand .com. The complaint lists Knutson's addresses as windmanscandy .com; widmans-candy .com; and widmanschocolate. com.
Knutson ignored "requests and demands" to transfer all domain names associated with the Widman family, the complaint said.
A note on the Widman's Web site reads, "Any other store in FARGO that bears a like name on the internet is neither owned nor associated with the Widman family or our quality of product. Do not let imitations fool you!"
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Best,
Dan