http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/decisions/html/2006/d2006-0655.html http://gail.com Go and marry your girlfriend right now and they won't win against you.
That's really creepy. Holding on to the domain name of a girlfriend you broke up with 9 years ago. Do you plan to build a website about her? She can't be pleased - and neither can your current beau.
another one that does not know what they are talking about and should not be posting in the legal section.
Any update on this...I used to know a guy who said he had youtube.net and it was a weightloss blog or something and youtube.com was going to sue him or something. Would be interested in knowing what ended up happening.
As mentioned before, if you had the domain before the singer even existed then you shouldn't worry too much. You've had the rights to it long before her fame.
I am not sure about the record contract, but I googled her name and there are way too many people with the same name, of course, they are not famous.. this is BS, I am just not sure what I am going to do about this, you are right, they are trying to steal my property,.. but since they got money, they think they can take my property, I just need some good information as far as what to do, I don't know if i should worry about it or not...
You've got plenty of good advice as to what to do. It doesn't matter if other people have the same name, and besides it isn't your name, and the legitimate excuse you are going to give for sitting on a domain of a name you have no connection to? If they come after you, you will need an attorney and a lot of money. There is a guy who's real name is nissan, and he has been in court for the last ten years fighting to keep the domain and has a legal bill that is in the millions to keep the domain - and it still isn't over. They have a legitimate reason for a claim to the domain name because it is their name. Forget about who is in the right, the legal system in the US works in favor for those with the most money in IP disputes.
If the OP is not in the US, eg in Spain can he be saved from the cruelty of the US jurisdiction system? *I am not a lawyer thats why I am asking mjewel p/s- oh yeah read all about what mjewel mention on Nissan at http://www.digest.com
ICANN is a US company that follows US law. In a trademark dispute, there is the Madrid Protocol which includes Spain and about 80 countries. Even if you could challenge the venue, it is going to require hiring an attorney and spending a lot of money. There are a lot of unknowns in this particular case, but not having any money to pay for a legal defense really limits their options.
I doubt youll have issues...unless they REALLLY want it and in that case I hope you have a good friend thats a lawyer...money makes the world go round.