Google Sued in Domainer Lawsuit

[Whois-Search]

Domainer litigation is heating up, and this lawsuit may be the most ambitious anti-domainer lawsuit to date. First, it is a putative class action lawsuit. Second, in addition to naming four leading domainer firms, the plaintiffs provocatively go after Google for providing ads to domainer sites. I believe this is the first lawsuit against Google for its domainer relationships.

http://blog.ericgoldman.org/archives/2007/06/google_sued_in.htm

 

[Beasty]

http://blog.ericgoldman.org/archives/2007/06/google_sued_in.htm

Very good spot Whois! One to follow with interest.

 

[Johnp]

Interesting to note some of the co-defendants:

Sedo

Oversee.net

​

Which run Domainsponsor.com also owns the following Chesterton Holdings, Jucco Holdings, Maltuzi and registrar Nameking.com who are cited for domain tasting and Snapnames.com for auctioning expired domains.

Doster

It is also an opened 'class action' refering to 'Un-Named Co-Conspirators' - other parking companies, registratrs and registrants, refererred to as 'John Does'

I guess given the large pockets of the defendants and the wide ranging nature of the class action - it may be a long time before there is an outcome. Might be interesting though to see if parking companies start to tighten their domain approval criteria.

One to watch if nothing else for entertainment value


JohnP

 

[grandin]

Will go further

I went further in a DRS Appeal saying that the complainant's time would be better spent chasing competitors who use google's sponsored links

Lee

 

[jmcc]

I went further in a DRS Appeal saying that the complainant's time would be better spent chasing competitors who use google's sponsored links

I hardly think that's in the same league as using the RICO statutes (the legislation used against the Mafia in the US). Though this case could have some spectacular fallout if it goes ahead. There are rumours on some domainer boards that iREIT is currently up for sale. More dropcatchers/parking companies might get enjoined. That's what those John Doe things are for.

Regards...jmcc

 

[Beasty]

Who are the apparently famous Vulcan lead litigant? I've never heard of them.

 

[jmcc]

Who are the apparently famous Vulcan lead litigant? I've never heard of them.

A manufacturer of golfing equipment - apparently famous in the US. It will be very interesting to see who gets added to the rogues' gallery next. I think that if this case progresses, some big name brands that have been victims of typo-squatting might pile in. Google might be well able to fight but some of the others may be in trouble.

Regards...jmcc

 

[Beasty]

A manufacturer of golfing equipment - apparently famous in the US. It will be very interesting to see who gets added to the rogues' gallery next. I think that if this case progresses, some big name brands that have been victims of typo-squatting might pile in. Google might be well able to fight but some of the others may be in trouble.

Regards...jmcc

Thanks jmcc. So they "borrowed" someone else's invented word for their brand. Wonder if they ever use adwords for other (more famous) golf manufacturers...

 

[jmcc]

Thanks jmcc. So they "borrowed" someone else's invented word for their brand. Wonder if they ever use adwords for other (more famous) golf manufacturers...

Well the word Vulcan didn't just appear with Star Trek. I think he was a Roman God associated with volcanoes.

But it is possible to have a trademark on such a word and a trademark has to be defended. Otherwise it lapses. The latest on the case is that the damages being asked for are $1M. That looks extraordinarily reasonable by US standards. Google might defend but it is not the target of this suit. It could have a major impact on the domaining business if it gets farther.

http://dockets.justia.com/docket/court-ilndce/case_no-1:2007cv03371/case_id-210005/

Regards...jmcc

 

[Beasty]

Well the word Vulcan didn't just appear with Star Trek. I think he was a Roman God associated with volcanoes.

But it is possible to have a trademark on such a word and a trademark has to be defended. Otherwise it lapses. The latest on the case is that the damages being asked for are $1M. That looks extraordinarily reasonable by US standards. Google might defend but it is not the target of this suit. It could have a major impact on the domaining business if it gets farther.

http://dockets.justia.com/docket/court-ilndce/case_no-1:2007cv03371/case_id-210005/

Regards...jmcc

That teaches me to write without thinking!

 

[jmcc]

That teaches me to write without thinking!

Watching Star Trek makes up for it. The important thing to watch with this case is who will join on the side of the plaintiffs and who will be named as the John Does. It could really screw up the domaining business if there is an adverse judgement. Those named have substantial domain registrations of their own so it is not like they are ordinary domainers. The damages are comparatively sane by US standards and that makes a lot of people nervous.

Regards...jmcc

 

[Beasty]

Has AdSense use been settled as TM use in the US? I thought it hadn't been - at least not yet.