Kraft Foods wins domain from French seamstress

RJ · 03-15-2005, 09:43 AM

Quote:

NANTERRE, FRANCE -- A seamstress in southeast France must hand over rights to the website www.milka.fr to U.S. food company Kraft Foods, vendor of Milka brand chocolate, a court ruled yesterday. Milka Budimir, who runs two seamstress shops in and near the town of Valence, was ordered to cede the Internet domain name to the Northfield, Ill., food giant within a month or face fines.

The court in the western Paris suburb of Nanterre ruled that Budimir "made unjustified use of the registered trademark Milka that is owned by Kraft Foods."

Kraft had accused Budimir of "cybersquatting" -- a practice in which web users pay small amounts of money to obtain Internet domain names to make a quick profit from those who may want to use them. In some cases, the names are worth millions of dollars.

Gerard Haas, a lawyer for Budimir, said: "We are sorry to see that the law of brands triumphs over the right -- and the first name -- of people."

Lawyers for Kraft had argued the chocolate's name was protected under intellectual property law and said any unauthorized use would dilute and damage its reputation.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/industry-news/75474-kraft-foods-wins-domain-french-seamstress.html

The court rejected Budimir's effort to wrest $133,720 US from Kraft in damages and legal costs. She had argued the company harassed her for the last two years.

http://www.milka.fr/

Source: London Free Press

Mark · 03-15-2005, 09:53 AM

My French is a bit rusty - But that just plain Sux - Part Deux ....

**Dave Zan** · 03-15-2005, 10:03 AM

merdeux...(he he he, that's what I gathered as French for sh**...)

That's one disadvantage when you and the complaining party live in the same
area: you can be sued by the latter for whatever reason.

RJ · 03-15-2005, 10:06 AM

There's more case information on milka.fr and Kraft's site, but I can't read a faire eau of French.

Mark · 03-15-2005, 10:18 AM

I tried using the Babel Translator at alta - But it won't work right - lol -

But - I will think about this the next time I pick up Salad Dressing etc ... at the Store !!! ~ Thx for the Info -RJ-

.X. · 03-15-2005, 11:04 AM

This is a perfect example of how greedy big industrys act."Milka" The ladys name,I guess next they will chasing everyone that has cow in thier domain name staking claim to that too.These are the type of stupid things that are a waste of time and money in my opinion.Totally ridiculous in my opinion.Protect your intelectual property yes i agree,Take action on a something that in no way effects them,I disagree. Mac&cheese anyone LOL.

SirSpider · 03-15-2005, 11:06 AM

Shame on Kraft Foods for acting with no more regard than a bully in a school-yard. That news article will definitely influence my choice of which brand NOT to buy at the grocery store.

Mike_Wiseman · 03-15-2005, 11:06 AM

lol, i hate the french language, i didnt know kraft made chocolate? Or did i just read that wrong??? I though they just made that kraft dinner stuf?

JMJ · 03-15-2005, 11:51 AM

Very poor decision and shame on Kraft for bullying their way into the name. Makes me wish I had Rick Swartz's CorporateBully.com right about now.

Jeffrey · 03-17-2005, 09:00 PM

Her lawyer has failed to defend her. Milka is her first name, and she has the right to use it.

Raf · 03-17-2005, 09:10 PM

That's totally ridiculous, their taking something away from her just because it has her first name it. Yikes, what is the world becoming these days with trademarking names.

Argos · 03-18-2005, 01:19 AM

Kraft Foods est absolument dégueulasse... and they say that the site of Mrs. Milka Budimir is damaging their reputation ??? They ruin themselves their image de marque in hijacking the name !
What to do against them ?

At least stop buying their chocolate, EMBARGO !!!

Prosperous · 03-18-2005, 11:02 AM

They're milka-ing her for all she's worth.
No wait, that sounds somewhat perverted.
Er..

LeeRyder · 03-18-2005, 11:19 AM

wow...seems the french courts and judges are just as corrupt and illegitimate as ours.

well, add Kraft to the list of companies not to buy from. thats just wrong what they did.

Nissan-theives
Kraft-thieves

ill have stephany interpret the webpage shortly.

Ben42 · 03-18-2005, 11:35 AM

I wonder if McDonald's will grab Mcdonald.com from someone named McDonald?

Any girls named Candy? Watch out, Willy Wonka might be after you!

Wesley · 03-18-2005, 11:40 AM

Ugh, that's awful... Doesn't Kraft own an NBA team? Anybody know the name? Heh, if this became common knowledge, they'd loose so much business -.- They had no right to the domain.

03-15-2005, 09:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
Mark Hi :) Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: NC Posts: 9,537	My French is a bit rusty - But that just plain Sux - Part Deux .... __________________ When the man at the door yelled "Alcohol , Tobacco , and Firearms" .... I just assumed it was a delivery !

03-15-2005, 10:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
Dave Zan Electrifying Guy Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 4,827 Follow @DaveZan	merdeux...(he he he, that's what I gathered as French for sh...) That's one disadvantage when you and the complaining party live in the same area: you can be sued by the latter for whatever reason. __________________ Vidi, Vici, Veni!** Follow My Tweets \| Check My Blog Last edited by Dave Zan; 03-15-2005 at 10:17 AM.

03-15-2005, 10:06 AM	THREAD STARTER #4 (permalink)
RJ NamePros Admin Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 12,919 Follow @DomainBuyer	There's more case information on milka.fr and Kraft's site, but I can't read a faire eau of French. __________________ Reach me at rj at namepros dot com

03-15-2005, 10:18 AM	#5 (permalink)
Mark Hi :) Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: NC Posts: 9,537	I tried using the Babel Translator at alta - But it won't work right - lol - But - I will think about this the next time I pick up Salad Dressing etc ... at the Store !!! ~ Thx for the Info -RJ- __________________ When the man at the door yelled "Alcohol , Tobacco , and Firearms" .... I just assumed it was a delivery !

03-15-2005, 11:06 AM	#7 (permalink)
SirSpider NamePros Regular Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Baltimore.to Posts: 435	Shame on Kraft Foods for acting with no more regard than a bully in a school-yard. That news article will definitely influence my choice of which brand NOT to buy at the grocery store. __________________ --- SirSpider says, "Visit Ocean City, MD for a fun beach vacation." Leave No Child Behind - Controversy in Education Reform

03-15-2005, 11:04 AM	#6 (permalink)
.X. Revolution Calling! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NamePros Avenue Posts: 5,920	This is a perfect example of how greedy big industrys act."Milka" The ladys name,I guess next they will chasing everyone that has cow in thier domain name staking claim to that too.These are the type of stupid things that are a waste of time and money in my opinion.Totally ridiculous in my opinion.Protect your intelectual property yes i agree,Take action on a something that in no way effects them,I disagree. Mac&cheese anyone LOL.

03-15-2005, 11:06 AM	#8 (permalink)
Mike_Wiseman Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Ontario , Canada Posts: 1,103	lol, i hate the french language, i didnt know kraft made chocolate? Or did i just read that wrong??? I though they just made that kraft dinner stuf? __________________ "Dont argue with an idiot, he will just drag you down to his level and beat you with expeirence. Dont argue with me, ill drag you down to my level and beat you with a baseball bat" :D

03-15-2005, 11:51 AM	#9 (permalink)
JMJ Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Nashville Posts: 1,888	Very poor decision and shame on Kraft for bullying their way into the name. Makes me wish I had Rick Swartz's CorporateBully.com right about now. __________________ DN Sites Last edited by JMJ; 03-15-2005 at 11:55 AM.

03-17-2005, 09:00 PM	#10 (permalink)
Jeffrey Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Cebu Posts: 1,431	Her lawyer has failed to defend her. Milka is her first name, and she has the right to use it. __________________ Professionally Designed VECTOR ICONS! \|Search 1 gigabyte mails here! \| Personal Blog \| Soccer Blog \| Manila Blog \| Blog Directory \| JQR.org - taking offers \| Free Cebu City Photos

03-17-2005, 09:10 PM	#11 (permalink)
Raf Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 1,744	That's totally ridiculous, their taking something away from her just because it has her first name it. Yikes, what is the world becoming these days with trademarking names.

03-18-2005, 01:19 AM	#12 (permalink)
Argos Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: fyfy.com Posts: 2,022	Shame on Kraft Foods Kraft Foods est absolument dégueulasse... and they say that the site of Mrs. Milka Budimir is damaging their reputation ??? They ruin themselves their image de marque in hijacking the name ! What to do against them ? At least stop buying their chocolate, EMBARGO !!!

03-18-2005, 11:02 AM	#13 (permalink)
Prosperous Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: United States of Euphoria Posts: 3,692	They're milka-ing her for all she's worth. No wait, that sounds somewhat perverted. Er.. __________________ ════► Great American City names? Get Yours CHEAP! ★ [INSTANT download]

03-18-2005, 11:19 AM	#14 (permalink)
LeeRyder Account Suspended Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Left Coast Posts: 3,503	wow...seems the french courts and judges are just as corrupt and illegitimate as ours. well, add Kraft to the list of companies not to buy from. thats just wrong what they did. Nissan-theives Kraft-thieves ill have stephany interpret the webpage shortly.

03-18-2005, 11:35 AM	#15 (permalink)
Ben42 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Chi-Town Posts: 2,115	I wonder if McDonald's will grab Mcdonald.com from someone named McDonald? Any girls named Candy? Watch out, Willy Wonka might be after you! __________________ KG to Pounds Conversion Calculator

03-18-2005, 11:40 AM	#16 (permalink)
Wesley Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: MD Posts: 524	Ugh, that's awful... Doesn't Kraft own an NBA team? Anybody know the name? Heh, if this became common knowledge, they'd loose so much business -.- They had no right to the domain.

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