Verizon wins $33.2 million

[equity78]

Verizon claims $33.2 million victory in case against so-called 'cybersquatters'


BASKING RIDGE, N.J. (AP) -- Verizon Communications Inc. said Wednesday a U.S. District Court in California has awarded it $33.2 million in a suit against a San Francisco company accused of registering hundreds of Internet addresses similar to Verizon's to attract Web users.


Verizon said the Internet domain company OnlineNIC Inc. set up at least 663 domain names that were "either identical to or confusingly similar to Verizon trademarks."

OnlineNIC's "bad-faith registrations" were intended to lure unsuspecting Internet users looking for Verizon's real Web site, Verizon said.

"This case should send a clear message and serve to deter cybersquatters who continue to run businesses for the primary purpose of misleading consumers," Sarah Deutsch, Verizon's general counsel, said in a statement.

Attempts to reach OnlineNIC for comment were unsuccessful and no attorney for the company is listed on the suit. Verizon said OnlineNIC did not appear in court or send a lawyer to defend against the charges.

Verizon is one of nearly 20 companies, including Dell Inc. and Goldman Sachs, that have teamed up as the Coalition Against Domain Name Abuse to lobby Congress for laws protecting their brand names on the Internet.

New York-based Verizon said it has won three similar cases in which courts granted preliminary injunctions against companies accused of profiting from its domain name.

 

[Kate]

Good luck collecting the money :]

 

[duceman]

Verizon is one of nearly 20 companies, including Dell Inc. and Goldman Sachs, that have teamed up as the Coalition Against Domain Name Abuse to lobby Congress for laws protecting their brand names on the Internet.

I guess its time for everyday tax payers to set up the Coalition Against sending our Tax dollars to save poorly run companies that overpay executives to pump up the stock price and then pull the string on their golden parachute.

Is that name to long? :D I guess it would make an interesting acronym domain.

 

[ripley]

I doubt they care about the monetary award as much as the legal precedent this sets.

ripley.

 

[Tim Schoon]

hm I actually have one domain registered at onlineNIC

 

[DN BROKER]

Verizon Awarded $33.2 Million in 'Cybersquatting' Case

Verizon Communications Inc. said it has been awarded $33.2 million in a "cybersquatting" case against a San Francisco firm that registered Internet domain names purposely similar to the telecommunications giant's trademarks.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123013196536432935.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

 

[vagaa]

Good luck

 

[AzN]

I always thought they were based in China;
see http://www.icann.org/en/tlds/pro1/pdf/rop_exhibit_a5.pdf

 

[Triad]

i hope the decision gets reversed

 

[Dave_Z]

I always thought they were based in China;
see http://www.icann.org/en/tlds/pro1/pdf/rop_exhibit_a5.pdf

Unless not updated, InterNIC indicates OnlineNIC's address in California:

http://internic.net/registrars/registrar-82.html

OnlineNIC, Inc.
351 Embarcadero E. Oakland CA 94606
United States

 

[namemarket]

Unless not updated, InterNIC indicates OnlineNIC's address in California:

http://internic.net/registrars/registrar-82.html

Go to street view and rotate to the side of steet. Not too nice a location for their office!

http://maps.google.com/maps?sourcei...RCADERO E OAKLAND, CA 94606&um=1&sa=N&tab=wl

 

[Debt.tv]

Go to street view and rotate to the side of steet. Not too nice a location for their office!

http://maps.google.com/maps?sourcei...RCADERO E OAKLAND, CA 94606&um=1&sa=N&tab=wl

Being a City engineer, the address is only approximate. Sometimes it doesn't even have the right block.

 

[thebutler]

Check in the mail...

Checks in the mail just wait for it.

If I had any domains reg'd at OnlineNIC I'd move them ASAP. If Verizon really goes after them they won't have one stick of office furniture left.

 

[Dave_Z]

On the side, I rather doubt this is precedent setting if that's what Verizon is
gunning for. And I also rather wonder how much they'll be able to collect...if
at all.

 

[j0hnyl]

Court awards Verizon $33 million in cybersquatting squabble

came across this while browsing some news headlines

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/pos...on-33-million-in-cybersquatting-squabble.html

The telecom won a default judgement against OnlineNIC for $50,000 per domain name that OnlineNIC registered, and both Microsoft and Yahoo filed their own similar lawsuits later this year.

 

[Green Moon]

Thank you for the post. That is very interesting, though of course the fact that OnlineNIC didn't show up to contest the complaint in court minimizes the educational aspect of the case.

 

[BigSotong.com]

No matters what happen, if you have domains with OnlineNIC, you should immediately transfer them out before it get strucked.

 

[RoxyAus]

If i am not mistaken their bosses are based in China? As there are a few other registrars/resellers related to them.
Same goes, if i have names with them i'll definitely move them out asap, if now is not too late!
May be another Regfly case?

 

[dezinerite]

No matters what happen, if you have domains with OnlineNIC, you should immediately transfer them out before it get strucked.

Uh oh...: http://www.namepros.com/domain-name-discussion/546580-warning-onlinenic-in-lock-down.html

 

[netra]

They are blessed with the good luck as well as from the GOD. I hope with this amount they will be going ofr investing and expanding in the company. Good luck Verizon.