Posted on 07/25/2007 8:30:15 PM PDT by hedgetrimmer
Woo-hoo! "The Simpsons Movie" has won its name back on the Internet.
A UN agency has ruled that ownership of the domain name thesimpsonsmovie.com must be handed to News Corp.'s Twentieth Century Fox, which owns the rights to the film and the popular TV series.
Twentieth Century Fox complained to the World Intellectual Property Organization over the use of the film's name in the Internet address of a site registered by Keith Malley of New York.
Fox lawyers claimed Malley was using the address to divert Internet users to a website that included sexually explicit depictions of several characters from "The Simpsons" and, later, to his "Keith and the Girl" website. He was demanding a $50,000 fee from Twentieth Century Fox for the domain name, according to the July 22 ruling of the WIPO arbitration panel.
It found that Malley "has no rights or legitimate interests with respect to the domain name" and ordered its immediate return.
In an interview, Malley said that Fox lawyers never contacted him and that he learned about the case after the deadline had passed. He said his contact information was available on his website and through his lawyer, although he hadn't updated the official registration records for the domain name, which he bought in 1999.
"I found it bullying," Malley said, adding that he would speak with his lawyer about challenging the decision. Malley could appeal by filing a lawsuit in a court.
The arbitration system, which was set up in 1999, allows those who think they have the right to a domain to gain control of it without having to fight a costly legal battle or pay large sums of money. Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman and Madonna are among the Hollywood stars who have previously won rulings against so-called "cybersquatters."
"The animated television series 'The Simpsons' debuted in 1989, and has become one of the longest-running network series in television history," the ruling said, noting that Friday's release of the film has generated huge public interest on the Internet.
WIPO said Malley's "aim in registering the disputed domain name was to profit from and exploit" Twentieth Century Fox's trademark to promote and sell his own products and merchandise.
Malley, 33, who produces an Internet radio show, said he obtained the domain name with intentions of creating a parody of "The Simpsons." He said the amount Fox offered for the domain name, $300, wouldn't cover time spent developing ideas for the site; he would not elaborate on those ideas.
Hey there...oh, not much. I don’t really know much about anything, so it won’t be too hard for you to knock me down a few notches.
There’s many things in life that are worth wasting your time on. He ain’t one of them.
To be fair, I’d like to hear your answer to my hypothetical in #20. Please don’t turn Rambo on me.
You don’t remember how you almost “schooled” me on the US Steel Industry a while back (lol). Might want to go back and review my or your posting history :) We’ve met. You are rudeboy1’s friend :)
“Please don’t turn Rambo on me.”
Now that was a pleasant and needed laugh :)
You’re quite right about that.
Let’s find something of greater interest. : )
It makes me wonder. Are they such good friends that they share the very same skin?
Very curious...
I was curious, so I did a bit of research on the World Intellectual Property Organization. Looks like it dates back to the 1960’s. Shouldn’t you be rather embarrassed that you’re only hearing of it now?
Don’t think so...different thread. You and rudeboy1 were letting me know about the “last guy that got banned coming in with steel industry knowledge”. I don’t know anything about bannings or conspiracies either.
We need to have more fun on these threads. Maybe the Mod slap-down was a sign.
I agree...and I think it probably was. On this subject, there are some interesting things to learn about. Who owns internet backbone/ip allocations, etc.. Lot’s of 21st Century hurdles to be crossed in our lifetime.
Do you have some FReepmail to answer?
As I told you in the private response I sent to you, do not post to me ever again.
You are welcome to respond to the FReepmail I sent you.
And another one runs away. You meanie.
Yesterday I saw a thread about a cat on the dementia ward of a nursing home. Every time the cat spent time with a patient they died.
I think the cat’s after their insurance money.
;-)
You should get your collegue to share the FReepmail I sent to him.
Why not send it to me yourself?
lol!! Them cats!
If I send a person a letter it is theirs to do with what they will. I won’t release it to someone else without their consent.
I treat the FReepmail I send the same way. If 1rudeboy wants to share it with you I have no problem.
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