wisconsindepartmentofrevenue.com handed to the WI gov't

[RJ]

Off the news wire today...

CYBERSQUATTING: Revenue Department wins domain name
Associated Press

GENEVA — Wisconsin's state Department of Revenue has won control of the Internet name www.wisconsindepartmentofrevenue.com in a ruling by a United Nations panel.

The arbitration panel ordered the transfer of the domain name to the department, which had complained to the World Intellectual Property Organization that it was being used illegally.

The ruling said the registered owner, Pro-Life Domains Inc. of Bronx, N.Y., had no rights or interests in the name. The owner of the site did not file a defense.

Lawyers for the state of Wisconsin said that Pro-Life Domains lacked any right to or legitimate interest in the domain name and was using it in bad faith, redirecting Internet traffic to another site.

The U.N. panel agreed, noting that the domain name directed Internet users to a site at www.abortionsaremurder. org. The domain name also had been used to redirect traffic to www.rxmeds.com, a commercial Web site for the retail sale of prescription drugs, it said.

The department's official domain name is www.dor.state.wi.us

"There is no indication that the name Wisconsin Department of Revenue is registered as a trade or service mark," the U.N. panel said.

"However, it appears that the complainant has used the name in connection with services rendered to the public for many years. Therefore, the panel concludes that complainant has common law trademark rights in the name."

Anyone can register a domain name for a few dollars, which has led so-called "cybersquatters" to file for famous names to make a fast buck from those who want the names.

Other cybersquatters sometimes use domain names for political reasons.

The U.N. arbitration system, which started in 1999, allows those who think they have the right to a domain to get it back without having to fight a costly legal battle or paying large sums of money.

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