Most likely, it is simply a domain holder protecting his site name by having first the primary site (.fr) then registering the dot.com to protect it from a jerk grabbing it to siphon off traffic. For example, I have a bulletin board website with the dot.net as the main site then have the dot.com and dot.us registered as well with redirects to the dot.net.
Wouldn't surprise me if freerepublic.com had dot.net and some others tied up for this reason. This is a cheap defense against domain jerks. No lawyers needed.
Maybe eet ees because you are, how you say, very sexy.