Celebrity domain squatting examples

[ivoy]

I am writing an article about the importance of registering personal domains for anyone trying to break into the entertainment industry, politics, high level business positions, etc.
In order to illustrate possible problems associated with domain squatting, I'd like to demonstrate actual examples of cases where public figures were either forced to sue, or simply pay ridiculous amounts for their own name domains.

So far I have only found one example (dnjournal.com): "...former American Idol contestant Constantine Maroulis bought ConstantineMaroulis.net for $2,500 in a private sale. Maroulis is reportedly still trying to get ConstantineMaroulis.com, a domain that was registered by the drummer in his former band. Apparently Maroulis and the drummer are marching to a different beat these days."

This is the kind of facts I am looking for - IF YOU CAN THINK OF ANY OTHER CASES SIMILAR TO THIS ONE, please post
thank you!
voytek

 

[jhansen]

http://domainsmagazine.com/Domains_12/domain_3539.shtml
http://www.arbforum.com/domains/decisions/128073.htm
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/12/17/ronaldinho_scores_own_domain_name/
http://www.viruslist.com/en/news?id=178627293

 

[gazzip]

Tom Cruise > http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/07/23/tom_cruise_dotcom_win/

Celine Dion > http://www.theregister.co.uk/2001/02/23/wipo_disgraces_itself_over_celinedion/

Bruce Springsteen > http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/decisions/html/2000/d2000-1532.html

Pierce Brosnan > http://www.melbourneitcbs.com/news....rce Brosnan wins UDRP case&year=2003&month=09






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[kev]

SimonKhan.com was reported as sold on sedo today at $900 - think he is an English golfer :blink:

 

[Name Trader]

MichaelJackson.com is owned by Sony BMG Music. Be careful who you get into bed with

 

[randomo]

Just to show the flip side:

I have acquired some celebrity (actor / athlete) .com's, with the intention of giving them to those people for free. I've tried to offer four or five of them, by emailing each person's agent / network / official site / whatever, and I have not received a single response from anyone.

 

[ivoy]

Thank you so much guys! This is very helpful. If you can think of any more cases involving domain purchases for specific amounts rather than winning court disputes and settlements, it will help even more.

randomo: this is very true just as it is puzzling... I have a similar example: many years back I have spotted a domain calebcarr.com (fairly famous New York born author) among expired domains. I registered it and set up a site with a statement offering it to Mr. Carr absolutely free of charge. No response whatsoever, so ... years later, I turned it into an Amazon "astore". So far noone cares...