Consider the case of David Lloyd who registered his nickname ’squaresheep’ on Facebook, the nickname he says he has been known by for over 10 years and used on other services like Hotmail and Skype.com However last weekend, Facebook notified him that his username had been revoked and awarded to a cooking website of the same name, which had been established for only one year. Facebook told … [Read more...]
GoogleGoogleGoogleGoogle.com Site is Up & Running & Asking For Contributions
Yes someone actually has a site up and running on the domain, GoogleGoogleGoogleGoogle.com, or as they call it Goog4. What is the site, its just the Google search box broken into 4 squares so you could perform mulitple Google searches without switching windows or tabs in your broswer. Cool idea. Problem is it isn't Google doing it. The domain was just registered a few months ago and … [Read more...]
The Government Goes To Registrars To Asking Them To “Teminate” Domain Registrations
The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) send out a "warning letter" this week to 22 companies that operate 136 sit"that appeared to be illegally selling drugs to American consumers." However even through its was labeled as "warning letter", the FDA also went to the service providers of the sites and registrars of the domain names subject to the warning letter and told them "that the site … [Read more...]
Breaking News: SnapNames/Oversee Revises & Restates Release To Limit It Just To Halvarez
After much discussion and criticism last week Oversee/SnapNames.com announced today that it has revised and restated the release they are requiring those wanting to accept the settlement for the bidding activities of the bidder Halvarez to sign. As we have discussed here we thought the release was overly broad and the literally reading would release Oversee and Snapnames from all and any … [Read more...]
Without a Trademark, WIPO Awards Domains In A Decision That Should Worry “Government” Domain Holders
This is a a one panel WIPO decision that's maybe troubling for any one owning a domain related to a governmental entity or governmental function. This case involved several domains containing "811" combined with a state. The domains at issue were: alabama811.com, al811.com, la811.com, louisiana811.com, tennessee811.com, tenn811.com, and tn811.com 811 was set up by the FCC in March 2005 … [Read more...]
GoDaddy Can Now Incorporate Your Company
Domain registrar Go Daddy rolled out a new product this week providing businesses incorporation services for both corporations and LLC's.in all 50 states Like many online incorporation sites, Godaddy asks some basic questions, and then files the necessary paperwork on behalf of the applicant and send the the filed incorporation documents to the applicant within a few weeks. Bob Parsons, Go … [Read more...]
Attempted Domain Theft By Trademark Fails In WIPO: Project.me
A German company missing the landrush for the domain project.me goes out after the landrush and registers a trademark on the term in Germany and then files a WIPO complaint against the domainer that grabbed the .me domain during the landrush. Welcome to trademark abuse. So with a ton of new extensions coming on the horizon this is an important case. The three member panel found in favor … [Read more...]