Pop musician Sting has failed to evict an alleged cybersquatter who owns the website address www.sting.com.
Published:
30 July 2000 y., Sunday
The website owner, who says he has used the address for eight years, was accused of cybersquatting - registering the name in the hope of making a fortune from selling the name to the singer.
Sting, whose real name is Gordon Sumner, took the case to the international domain name arbitration service of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva.
The UN-run agency says celebrities have common law trademark rights to their names, but Sting failed to prove the name had been registered in bad faith and also that his name was a trademark. He is the first celebrity to suffer such a defeat.
Sting claimed the American holder of the site, Michael Urvan, had offered to sell it back for $25,000 (Ј16,500). But Mr Urvan, from Georgia, denied the claim and Sting's lawyers offered no proof to support it.
The WIPO panel acknowledged that Sting is a "world famous entertainer" known by that name but also ruled it was also a common English word, listing its multiple meanings in a dictionary.
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
Software company announced new structure_ of it_s business.
more »
According to the council's report, ATM-skimming fraud, which involves illicitly copying ATM card information stored on magnetic stripes, is increasing in Europe.
more »
Building on the success of the recent HP TouchSmart PC for the home, HP today introduced the market’s first all-in-one, touch-enabled desktop PC for businesses.
more »
Microsoft Corp. Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer announced the beta availability of the Windows 7 operating system as well as the availability of the latest version of the Windows Live, a suite of personal communications services and applications.
more »
Cash-cycle management, branch optimization, sales/marketing consultation and automation, automated checkout and managed services are expected highlights for January's Wincor World 2009.
more »
We all need to better understand the media we are touched by daily, especially the young, says Austrian Socialist Christa Prets. MEPs backed her report on “media literacy in a digital world” on Tuesday.
more »
Since October, readers of the European Parliament's web pages have had access to RSS, which allows them to keep up-to-date with what is going on via a free subscription.
more »
Fox and Motorola collaboration results in first all-HD programming distribution strategy.
more »
Wincor Nixdorf has won a contract to integrate its cash management solution, consisting of staff-assisted self-service terminals, software and comprehensive services, in the checkout zones and IT operations of Shell Deutschland’s 1,300 service stations.
more »
The role that the internet can play in parliamentary democracy was explored this week when 400 people gathered in Brussels for the annual “e-Parliament conference”.
more »
The EU’s new digital library brings vast treasure trove of historical documents, rare and valuable manuscripts and exquisite cultural artefacts to your desk.
more »