.tv Internet Domain Auction Threatens 285 U.S. TV Stations

[gwkg]

Highly-prized 4-letter domain names using the call letters of 285 U.S. TV stations -- including major affiliates of ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX -- will be auctioned to the public by GoDaddy.com between Saturday, July 19, and Wednesday, July 23, according to an investigative report released today by AndyPurdy.com.

All of the domains for public auction use the .TV top-level domain, so auction winners will lay claim to domains such as WTTW.TV (using the call letters of the famous PBS station in Chicago), WXIA.TV (the NBC station in Atlanta), and WDIV.TV (the NBC affiliate in Detroit).

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/7/prweb1121114.htm

 

[TheBulldog]

well......

A couple thoughts.

Let's say I owned one of those stations. I would just wait for it to be sold and then hit the owner with a C&D. Or just take it back in court. The way this is playing out, anyone that actually bids on one is just asking for trouble.

Second thought: Publicity is always good.

 

[GoneWalkabout]

Is C&D City among the list of names?

Because that is exactly where you will be spending much of your time should you buy these toxic names - especially after all the publicity stating they are the names of the individual radio stations.

 

[gwkg]

Let's say I owned one of those stations. I would just wait for it to be sold and then hit the owner with a C&D. Or just take it back in court. The way this is playing out, anyone that actually bids on one is just asking for trouble.

If the person who buys it is in another country you'll probably have to use ICANN arbitration to get the name back. Last I checked that was at least $1300. (http://domains.adrforum.com/main.aspx?itemID=264&hideBar=False&navID=217&news=26)

I didn't check how much they went for, but sometimes its cheaper to just buy it.

 

[Dr. Mindwrecker]

These names are useless but you never know what is going to happen.

Any exposure for .tv is good...

 

[gwkg]

Here are the auction results and other interesting stuff

http://www.andypurdy.com/alert/

 

[TLDnetworks]

Here are the auction results and other interesting stuff

http://www.andypurdy.com/alert/

That's pathetic...
Both in terms of the auction itself and the results.

 

[TheBulldog]

Just bwahahahahahahahah.

Pathetic indeed. Looks like even domainers steered clear. Hopefully it was the stations picking them up, and going for dev.

Interesting the ones that were "withdrawn from auction".
Makes me wonder if they were somehow "forced" to remove them.

 

[gwkg]

By the looks of all those arbitration decisions I'm glad I stayed away from LLLL.com starting with 'W'

 

[benzdorf]

well......

A couple thoughts.

Let's say I owned one of those stations. I would just wait for it to be sold and then hit the owner with a C&D. Or just take it back in court. The way this is playing out, anyone that actually bids on one is just asking for trouble.

Second thought: Publicity is always good.

Ok what about this senerio, somebody has ( wkrz ) the letters for a radio station only, what would they want with a .tv ? " duhh" ! and what right would they have to it ? would they have a legitimate claim to it " They are a radio staion and .Tv is a counrty ID still kinda ? What if it was hosted in Belize ? And had nothing to do with Scranton Pa, where the station is from ?

 

[TheBulldog]

Well......

Legally, if they owned the trademark or copyright on the call letters or those call letters were mainly associated with that "station".

I imagine they could legitimately say that they were going to use the name to show videos of their stations and on-air personalities.


That is really the problem with trademark or copyrights.....if someone has one, and you regg'ed the name either knowing that, or not knowing and not doing your homework.....you stand a chance of loosing it.

Generics? Sure, you can do anything with a generic name.

Not generics? Don't know about you, but what would anyone else want with wkrz.tv?

The name is obscure that the only reason someone would want it is because they own the radio station, or they are cybersquatting.

 

[gwkg]

@benzdorf

It doesn't matter if it's a .com, .tv, or .me. If you fail these three tests, you lose your domain.

1. Domain was registered or being used in bad faith
2. Domain owner has no rights or legitimate interests in domain
3. Domain name is identical or confusingly similar to trademark

 

[TheBulldog]

qwkq.......really mate.

Ok, see you come along and get all technical with your three lines of facts, and try to make the bulldog look the fool for typing out his long winded response.

You see, i like the finesse of the English language, the ability of me to just start rambling. To go on and on having been previously accused of diarrhea of the mouth (or keyboard), yes, I pride myself on typing long enough that even I get bored with whatever I am blathering about.

 

[gwkg]

Bulldog, I think I get a pass on trying to do anything related to what you typed.

Look at the time of our posts. :]

Cheers!

 

[benzdorf]

Ok everybody..settle down take a deep breath and chill u all...

Thanks for the info hound dog and other guy, however I aquired it anyways and plan on keepen it for awhile..

wkrz in zinzinati ...

and just one more question do the (w) and (k) call letters belong to the FCC and the stations just rent them ?

 

[freedom30]

Ok...

...and just one more question do the (w) and (k) call letters belong to the FCC and the stations just rent them ?

Interesting question indeed as some radio stations have changed their call letters from time to time AND they can lose their license if not careful or do not follow the laws of the FCC.

Anyone know a definitive answer to benzdorf's question?

 

[shaper]

"The station is reassigned its same call sign upon renewal or modification of its license, unless the licensee applies for a change to a new sequentially assigned or vanity call sign on FCC Form 605."

(source) http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=call_signs&id=amateur

There are limitations on prefix availabilities, reserved list is here.
http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?id=amateur&job=call_signs_3&page=1
(fcc vanity call signs)

FCC apparently registers them, but uspto handles any validity as a mark, according to this IP lawyers blog

http://hccbipblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/call-signs-can-be-trademarked.html (Hardy, Carey, Chautin & Balkin)

Not sure if that helps, but may give some insight.

 

[TheBulldog]

Ah,,,,,benz, Makes me wonder if WKRP is available?

Would make a great fan site.

 

[newBtv]

bull-hound, I already checked WKRP,its not, would be a nice one..

So what im gonna do is and has been my plan all along..

WKRZ in german stands for Well komme Rundfunk Zincinnati..( well come broadcast cincinnati..) I'll host her in Germany and ad the acromyim to the banner and ya-la,there yeah have it..she now has nothing to do with the FCC .. lets see what happens.!?

 

[RogueWriter]

Well, I was gonna name my next kid wkrz, doggonit.