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U.S. Cybersquatting Law Goes Global

typecast writes: "Better bone up on Bulgarian trademark law before you register your next domain name. A U.S. federal court has ruled that laws protecting trademarks in foreign countries apply under the American Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA) of 1999. (Note to the U.S. registrants of Quartz.com: watch out!)"

151 comments

  1. Incident with the bird by RoboTroll · · Score: -1
    <0
    ( \
    X
    8===D


    (That's not my bird)

    Troll 89 of 96 from the annals of the Troll Library .

  2. I like by IAgreeWithThisPost · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    cold beverages.

    --
    security through obscurity = modding down anti-linux posts so maybe noone will see them
  3. polytarp by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    polytarp

  4. Hehee you crazy Americans by DrSkwid · · Score: -1, Troll

    you really like making life difficult for yourselves.

    You should live somehwre like the UK. We've got no constitution and no freedom of speech!

    But everything is legal (unless proscribed!).

    USA #1 (tm)
    USA #1 (tm)
    ..
    ad nauseum!

    --
    There are places where the networks are not touching,and there are places where they are-Boeing's Lori Gunter
  5. Not as evil as the article states. by Lumpy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Sorry, but if you register some domains and then hope to extort thousands out of it, you deserve to have it taken from you. I know that the law can and will be twisted by lawyers (remember all lawyers are evil scumbags, they will screw you for their own gain at every chance they get.. no, I'm not biased). The implications of this are designed for good intentions... What if a US moron was trying to extort cash out of a poor company in the country that was formerly known as the USSR for his domain name? Granted anyone with 1/3'd of a brain can come up with a workable replacement..

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    1. Re:Not as evil as the article states. by mshiltonj · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Sorry, but if you register some domains and then hope to extort thousands out of it, you deserve to have it taken from you.

      Translation: You can be a company afraid of the Internet and be slow to adjust to market market pressures. When you finally open your eyes and see that others have taken advantage of your lethargy in hopes of monetary gain, you need not fret -- just taken them to court.

      After all, we now know that successful corporations are not allowed to fail. In times of trouble, entire industries will recieve multi-billion dollar bailouts. Laws and courts will favor successful companes (like anti-cybersquatting laws) and in the rare cases that a corporation does fail, Congress will hold dozens of hearings to find out why and make sure that it doesn't happen again.

      Existing corporations and existing power-structures are not allow to fail or be challenged.

    2. Re:Not as evil as the article states. by tomstdenis · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Translation: You can be a company afraid of the Internet and be slow to adjust to market market pressures. When you finally open your eyes and see that others have taken advantage of your lethargy in hopes of monetary gain, you need not fret -- just taken them to court.

      So if I invent a new medium I should be able to own the reprensentation of Pepsi?

      That's what we are talking about. By registering say "pepsi.com" before the Pepsi company does your infringing on their right to the trademark and proper representation.

      Note that I am totally against disallowing registrations like "pepsisucks.com", etc. Just the name itself should be the property of the inventor. Otherwise each time a new medium is invented they could lose represenation.

      Tom

      --
      Someday, I'll have a real sig.
    3. Re:Not as evil as the article states. by chihowa · · Score: 1

      But what if you are a small electronics manufacturer with the name Pepsi, or what if your family name is Pepsi (I know, families don't need .coms!)? This just ensures that the company with the most money available for litugation wins the name, even though both companies have a fair right to the domain name.

      --
      If you want a vision of the future, imagine a youtube comments section scrolling - forever.
    4. Re:Not as evil as the article states. by tomstdenis · · Score: 2

      Yeah but its first come first serve.

      Why not use [in this example] "pepsielectronics.com" or "pepsie.com".

      Same goes for trademarks on anything else. You can't sell "Pepsi cola" in the states or Canada because Pepsi owns the name,

      See I am against companies registering every possible alternation of the name under the sun.

      --
      Someday, I'll have a real sig.
    5. Re:Not as evil as the article states. by sapone · · Score: 1

      But in this case, it wasn't about a company at all. It was a very old city claiming the rights to its quite unique name. In my opinion that claim carries more moral weight than the commercial interests of a some possibly short-ived company.

    6. Re:Not as evil as the article states. by droleary · · Score: 2

      So if I invent a new medium I should be able to own the reprensentation of Pepsi?

      Yes! Or do you think the fact that one company's stringing together of a few characters to represent a specific product should put a strangle hold on your new medium and the ability of everyone else to string together the same (or similar) characters to represent something else?

      A not-too-unlikely example is simple machine naming schemes. These could even be named after soft drinks (dew.example.com, coke.example.com, pepsi.example.com, etc.). I'm sorry, but I don't think any company that might possibly have a trademark on some specific use of a character string should get to tell me what I can and can't call things in my domain.

    7. Re:Not as evil as the article states. by tomstdenis · · Score: 1

      You missed my point. I was saying using a trademark on a new medium is still trademark infringement. Note that "any use of the name whatsoever is wrong".

      So you might invent "PepsiLotsa" which would be new. But simply just using "Pepsi" is wrong since you don't own the name.

      The idea stems back to fair play. If anyone could use a name then we'd all drive Fords, drink Pepsi and use Intel based computers. Even though none of the mentioned products were made by the original inventors.

      You will not be able to trust anything anymore since the name holds no reputation.

      On the other hand if you name is "BigFakeIntel" then clearly a consumer will tell the difference between that and the real thing. If you just use "Intel" then its muddy.

      Tom

      --
      Someday, I'll have a real sig.
    8. Re:Not as evil as the article states. by gwernol · · Score: 2

      Existing corporations and existing power-structures are not allow to fail or be challenged.

      This is clearly not true. Let's take a recent example: Enron which lobbied the government for a bail-out and other protections but didn't receive them.

      Of course sometimes it does happen, for example Long term capital management whose bailout (IMHO) stunk to high heaven. But clearly there is not some conspiracy to ensure that all failing corporations are protected in the way you seem to be suggesting.

      You also say: in the rare cases that a corporation does fail, Congress will hold dozens of hearings to find out why and make sure that it doesn't happen again.. Well given the consequences to the employees of Enron, not to mention the tax payers of California and other states that Enron stiffed, not to mention the shareholders whose millions are now worthless, perhaps it would be a very good thing if Congress ensured that the corporate malpractices that caused Enron to fail were curtailed...

      --
      Sailing over the event horizon
    9. Re:Not as evil as the article states. by sapone · · Score: 1

      But we're not talking about products, we're talking about names in a network... I usually feel some mental pain at the thought of trademark law applied to names that do not mark a product nor are used in any form of trade (non commercial sites). There's something wrong with the laws or their interpretation, if "trademarks" cover everything else but trade, too.

    10. Re:Not as evil as the article states. by tomstdenis · · Score: 1

      There is a strong difference between

      pepsi@joeblow.com and pepsi.com

      People will understand the former to be non-official and the latter to be official.

      Similarly there is a difference between writing a book called "The effects of Pepsi on the human stomach." and "Pepsi".

      Its what people will reasonably understand your name to represent. If a reasonable person will think you're representing the owner then thats bad.

      The definition of "reasonable" is what is in question.

      Tom

      --
      Someday, I'll have a real sig.
    11. Re:Not as evil as the article states. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe you aren't a squatter, but just want to use a simple domain name.

      These idiotic namespace problems with trademarks are a good reason *not* to have new TLDs and to eliminate the non ISO-country code TLDs (.net, .org, .com...ironically enough, .int, despite being new, can probably stay). Then each country can make its own, nonconflicting rules about how to allocate names within its own space, and all the problems with conflicting trademark laws go away.

      The C++ guys figured it out long ago -- namespaces are a good idea. How long is it gonna take ICANN?

    12. Re:Not as evil as the article states. by chihowa · · Score: 1

      Ah, but what if Pepsi Electronics beats Pepsi Cola to the pepsi.com domain. That is what I was referring to. If this happens, Pepsi Cola takes domain from Pepsi Electronics.

      The fact that more people associate Pepsi with a cola doesn't mean that PepsiCo gets exclusive rights to refer to itself as "Pepsi".

      If Pepsi Electronics registers pepsi.com, PepsiCo should have no right to sieze it. They exist in different markets, so they can have the same name. Big corporations should not be able to take domains from smaller ones just because they are bigger. If they are late to the game, then TS. They have more to offer the small company in exchange for the domain, and they should buy it instead of siezing it.

      I do agree that any alterations (pepsisucks.com, pepssi.com, etc) should be allowed, though...

      --
      If you want a vision of the future, imagine a youtube comments section scrolling - forever.
    13. Re:Not as evil as the article states. by Malcontent · · Score: 2

      "This is clearly not true. Let's take a recent example: Enron [enron.com] which lobbied the government for a bail-out and other protections but didn't receive them."

      Why do people insist on hanging on to their delusions like this.

      Look just because GW stabbed his buddy in the back when the enron empire was in the process of collapsing that does not mean GW and his party did not help enron for years before that. Even right up to the moment of collapse enron execs had the private phone numbers of GW, Cheney, and top level officials. That access is worth a lot of money and certainly you and I don't have it. Also consider that for years enron had the texas legislature and the governorship in their pocket. Once Bush got into office he passed numerous laws which made enron hundreds of millions of dollars.

      In the end as the house of cards was falling down GW stabbed his long term friend in the back to save his butt. One imagines Ken Lay uttering "e tu double u" as he collapses down. At one point dubya even denied they were friends, with friends like that well you know the rest.

      --

      War is necrophilia.

    14. Re:Not as evil as the article states. by gwernol · · Score: 2

      Why do people insist on hanging on to their delusions like this.

      Look just because GW stabbed his buddy in the back when the enron empire was in the process of collapsing that does not mean GW and his party did not help enron for years before that.


      etc.

      None of which contradicts my post. I merely noted that the original poster had said: "After all, we now know that successful corporations are not allowed to fail." and that clearly wasn't true because Enron had been allowed to fail.

      I never claimed that Enron did or did not receive favorable treatment from Bush or anyone else.

      Try actually reading the post before you flame it, especially if you are going to start getting all tetchy about it and throw around emotive terms like "delusions".

      --
      Sailing over the event horizon
    15. Re:Not as evil as the article states. by Malcontent · · Score: 2

      "None of which contradicts my post."

      I think that it indeed contradicts your post. Perhaps it clarifies your post. I'll put it this way.

      Enron fell despite the fact that the govt tried their damned best to keep it propped up. They had friends in high places, those friends passed laws to make more money for enron, enron fell anyways. I guess when the top brass is out to rip off everybody not even a exteremely helpful govt can prevent failure.

      --

      War is necrophilia.

    16. Re:Not as evil as the article states. by sconeu · · Score: 2

      As I recall, Sun sued everyone and their brother that had the phrase "Java" in their domain name. Including a company called "Javanco" (I think it made electronics, but it's been a while.

      The point is the owner's name was "Javan".

      --
      General Relativity: Space-time tells matter where to go; Matter tells space-time what shape to be.
    17. Re:Not as evil as the article states. by gwernol · · Score: 2

      Enron fell despite the fact that the govt tried their damned best to keep it propped up

      No they didn't.

      You can say the opposite until you're blue in the face but that doesn't make it true. The Bush government could have done a great deal more to help Enron but chose not to. That doesn't mean they didn't help them at all, clearly they did but the government clearly refused to bail out Enron. The government has bailed out companies in as much or worse trouble than Enron was in, such as LTCM previously mentioned. They chose not to do that for Enron.

      I very much doubt Kenneth lay would agree with your assesment that he had "an extremely helpful government".

      --
      Sailing over the event horizon
    18. Re:Not as evil as the article states. by Malcontent · · Score: 2

      Well that's funny all of your links actually vindicate my post. That being.

      1) for years the govt helped out enron.
      2) In the end bush backstabbed his friend and did not help him during the collapse of enron.
      3) Even during the end Enron had access to the highest levels of govt that you and I don't.

      None of your posts indicate anything about how much the state of texas helped enron when dubya was the pres though.

      Kenneth Lay made an obcene amount of money with thelp of the govt. If he is not grateful then he deserved to be stabbed in the back. I would guess that he will still keep his jets and mansions though so I don't think anybody will take his whining seriously.

      --

      War is necrophilia.

    19. Re:Not as evil as the article states. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Much more evil

      Let's see
      Ajax.com - Ajax predates Colgate's product
      Quartz.com - it's a generic word
      MacDonalds.com - arbitrary name
      Penguin.com - it's a bloody bird

      You could maybe make a case for say Pepsi, but not for Coke.

      If someone had the foresight to buy up names, maintain the registration and then auction them off, then that is the free market Americans are so big on. Oh I forgot that only applies when the corps are screwing the public not the other way around.

    20. Re:Not as evil as the article states. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I wonder if this result has given the town councils of Oracle, AZ, or Phillips, Maine, any ideas about improving their web presence....

  6. wtf? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    where did freedom go again? isn't this almost like killing capitalism? i have three domains right now, and i'm not ready to launch sites for two of them. does that mean someone with a company name of the same type can just take it?

    1. Re:wtf? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny
      Huh?

      What do you mean? That you should be able to sit on the names even though you cannot provide the service, yet? That way you're hindering the other company's right to make profit with the address. That's capitalism in action!

    2. Re:wtf? by jcsehak · · Score: 1

      Yes, dammit. It should, at least. Anyone who's spent any time looking for a domain name quickly finds that while almost everything is taken, 99% of those registered names have no sites behind them. People should be given a week or a month to put something meaningful behind it, or lose it to the next customer.

      --

      c-hack.com |
    3. Re:wtf? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If someone in Bulgaria registered YOURNAME.com, would you want legal recourse to get it back? If so, why don't they deserve the same protection?

    4. Re:wtf? by Webere · · Score: 2, Insightful

      99% of those registered names have no sites behind them. People should be given a week or a month to put something meaningful behind it, or lose it to the next customer.

      you know, there are other things you can do with a domain that don't involve having a web site...

    5. Re:wtf? by groman · · Score: 1

      If someone in Bulgaria registered YOURNAME.com, would you want legal recourse to get it back? If so, why don't they deserve the same protection? Of course not! I , for one, know that my name is in no way unique. It's first come first serve, in fact, I've tried to buy http://www.groman.com once, but I never even considered legal action, and I'm not going to, because they registered it first!

    6. Re:wtf? by Jedi+Binglebop · · Score: 1

      No, I'd just come up with another name. With the hundreds of millions of webpages out there, to _expect_ to get YOURNAME.com is not feasable, as it once may have been. (I am of course speaking from a non-multi-millionare-corporation-with-no-ethics background.)

      But, this type of thing does raise an interesting issue. There is probably a good way of dealing with the problem of unique domain names that has already been though of by a thousand hackneyed genii somewhere in the world. It's one of the early ponderences I had myself when I first started using the 'net in 1995.

      One idea I had was a keyname solution. You type "BIGCORP" in the locator bar and it brings up a page of all the companies/people who have registered that name. Instead of "bigcorp.com", "bigcorp.net" or "bigcorp.zib" etc, there could be a list of the companies you are looking for on the 'search' page.

      This wouldn't work well for large lists (eg "freepornhere"), but I'm pretty sure that there would be an elegent solution to that particular problem as well.

      This might seem like a bad idea (and probably does to {0 in_between = 100%} of the people reading this post), but the idea behind the idea, ie there has to be a better way to do this, would I am sure have some validity. Although maybe not as much feasability as possible validity.

      -JB

      --

      "I love deadlines. I love the "whooshing" sound they make as they pass by." - Douglas Adams.

    7. Re:wtf? by Jedi+Binglebop · · Score: 1

      I'd just like to say at this point that slashcode formats "Plain Old Text".

      The above {0 in_between = 100%} is meant to read {0 in_between = 100%}

      --

      "I love deadlines. I love the "whooshing" sound they make as they pass by." - Douglas Adams.

    8. Re:wtf? by jcsehak · · Score: 1

      Am I being thick-headed here? Besides forwarding to a working doman (ala www.carbon.com), what else can you do? Besides, of course, squat.

      --

      c-hack.com |
    9. Re:wtf? by SimplyCosmic · · Score: 1

      Everything from email to any kind of server (IRC, streaming audio or video, etc, etc).

    10. Re:wtf? by ladycrowe · · Score: 1

      there are plenty of people out there who use domains to represent themselves through email only... they don't particularily need to have a website to go along with it...

      lc

    11. Re:wtf? by jhunsake · · Score: 1

      http isn't the only protocol in use on networks, dumbass.

    12. Re:wtf? by jcsehak · · Score: 1

      email, streaming... of course; wasn't thinking. Anyhoo, the spirit (if not the letter) of my original post stands: If a domain name isn't being put to use, it should be up for grabs.

      --

      c-hack.com |
    13. Re:wtf? by jcsehak · · Score: 1

      Hey, thanks! I didn't know I was a dumbass. And you took 2 minutes out of your busy schedule to tell me--I'm touched.

      --

      c-hack.com |
    14. Re:wtf? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Unspoken law in business "Morals are for chumps". You seem reasonable, business's are not

    15. Re:wtf? by jhunsake · · Score: 1

      No problem, after all, you took 2 minutes out of your busy schedule to touch us with your ignorance.

    16. Re:wtf? by danro · · Score: 1

      Well, it would mean that the guy with the most money (Unless you are Bill G, that is the corporation.) won.
      But I guess that would be the definition of capitalism most companies like the best.
      Most laws are for their protection, not yours.

      On the other hand, this law doesn't seem all bad. It would also impact on the real cyber-squatters, and I suppose that is kind of good...

      I am split about this.

      --

      "First lesson," Jon said. "Stick them with the pointy end."
  7. Foreign Law coming to US by aliebrah · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Shouldn't the correct title of the article be something like "Spanish Law coming to US?". This is most definitely not a case of US law going overseas.

    Remember, it might be a shock to some people but to whole world does not revolve around the USA.

    1. Re:Foreign Law coming to US by Iamthefallen · · Score: 1

      Remember, it might be a shock to some people but to whole world does not revolve around the USA.

      What?! Why yes, it does come as a shock to me, and I'm Swedish. The thing is, the US is big and there's no power on earth that can fight it when it wants to impose its laws elsewhere, so yes, sadly, the world does revolve around the US.

      --
      Wax-Museum Fire Results In Hundreds Of New Danny DeVito Statues
    2. Re:Foreign Law coming to US by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As an American I can agree. We run the world. Game Over.

  8. Well, it is an EU country by OptimizedPrime · · Score: 4, Interesting

    It is an EU country, so it's less surprising. While I don't like the laws, we have been making a lot of laws and treaties with other countries, and the EU in paticular that are designed to protect US patents, copyrights and trademarks. Overall, its the result of Microsoft and the others trying to inflict their copyright laws, EULA's and such on the global market, only to have the global laws come back home to us. As a side note, IANAL, but I believe British copyright and trademark claims have always been recognized in the United States, and this is basically an extension to other countries. I think the base law is flawed, as are the laws that allow big corporations to take away valid websites from individuals or small companies, but the extension into the greater world doesn't seem that surprising to me.

    1. Re:Well, it is an EU country by Florian+Weimer · · Score: 2

      Bulgaria is an European country, sure, but it's not a member of the EU yet.

    2. Re:Well, it is an EU country by fiffilinus · · Score: 1

      Oh, it is a EU country, is it? It is not far removed from the EU geographically speaking, but using this criterion, say Colombia or Honduras would be US States :-) Geography is not the same as politics, see?

      I - and most citizens of this planet - wish that people (especially US) would just wake up to the fact that things are completely different from what can be learned from satellite TV. And hopefully the US will realise that they do not cover most of the Earth's landmass!

    3. Re:Well, it is an EU country by __past__ · · Score: 2

      Try reading the article, not just the /. post. The domain in question is barcelona.com.

    4. Re:Well, it is an EU country by e5z8652 · · Score: 1

      "Lawyers who squared off in a trademark dispute between the operators of a tourism portal and Barcelona, Spain, disagree on whether a U.S. District Court judge made the right call this month when he awarded the Internet address Barcelona.com to the city. But they agree that the judge broke new ground in U.S. anti-cybersquatting law."

      Some Americans can even read an article, and know little trivia like the fact that Spain is an EU country.

      Yah, I know - redundant.

      --

      null sig

    5. Re:Well, it is an EU country by symbolic · · Score: 2

      And in fact, someone here locally is suing (a music conductor) because the new copyright laws, though intended to protect US artists, create a HUGE problem, since they apply the same protection to foreign artists. The example they used was that it would have cost the symphony at least $5K to acquire the right to perform "Peter and the Wolf," a cost that the symphony is not about to forego. The offshoot of this is that people will either start shelling out a hell of a lot more to hear works from foreign artists, or they'll be listening to the same stuff over and over again.

      It's nice to know that we have such enlightened legislators.

  9. This is bull. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You know, eventually we may not be able to dial up on to the net anymore because some evil corporation copyrighted the handshaking noise that it makes when you dial in.

    Or, dialing up will violate cable modem company's rights to sell you cable service. What the hell.

  10. Is this just some sick and twisted attempt... by gmplague · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Is this just some sick and twisted attempt to perform a legal DDoS on some poor, unsuspecting, bulgarian quartz company? For shame.

    In other news, this sucks, BUT I can't see it being used very often as most foreigners are just as ignorant to our trademark laws as we are to theirs.

    --
    __________________________________________
    Take comfort in your ignorance.
    Grandmaster Plague
  11. Quartz watch out? by poonbanger · · Score: 1

    Quartz.com doesn't need to watch out, Quartz is a word in the dictionary.

    This is a different area of law.. remember sting.com? I think he ended up coughing up the cash for that one.

  12. This Judge is a moron. by zoomshorts · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    They get the name in 1996 and the City Of Barcelona takes 7 years to defend it's "rights"?
    Bullshit. Fuck Spain. I understand international trademark etc, but waiting 7 years? They are lamoids that deserve to lose. The judge is a moron. Too bad he is paid with public monies. Wait, you say they tried to extort money from the City. I say again, fuck Spain. Too stupid to be awake technologically in 1996. Pity.

  13. right thing (tm) by sapone · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I think the judge did the right thing in this case, the term Barcelona is commonly understood to refer to the Spanish city of Barcelona. But this shouldn't be based on possession of a "trademark"... there's really no trade involved. It's the name of a large city, this fact should supersede registered rademarks anyway... "culture supersedes commerce" would be a nice rule :-).

  14. Simpler than life by WildBeast · · Score: 0, Funny

    Well, looks like it's now easier to understand women than it is to understand the laws :)

    1. Re:Simpler than life by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      damn fucking moderators

  15. We'll get back at them by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Well, we're going to get back at them with DMCA, CPRM and SSSCA.

    WTO and WIPO will make sure that each and every European country will have to implement the same laws to keep Disney happy.

  16. Had to expect this... by crc32 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    After all, the US is a member of WIPO, and as such, is somewhat required to engage in these IP-law "harmonization" practices. Other countries will also be doing the same thing for our laws (extrateritorial DMCA jurisdiction... what has the world come to!).

    --
    "In order to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe." -- Carl Sagan, Cosmos
    1. Re:Had to expect this... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's ironic that countries like China and Russia are becoming only counties where the Right Not To Be Assfucked By A Corporation is still valid.

    2. Re:Had to expect this... by FrostedChaos · · Score: 1
      Too bad in China you can be executed for petty crimes or political offenses. And in Russia, you have the ever-popular Right To Be Bumped Off by The Mafia.


      But feel free to exercise your right to Be Totally Clueless and Whiny, a popular right among slashdot readers.

      --
      "Any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental." -Slashdot
    3. Re:Had to expect this... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Have you ever actually lived in China or Russia, or do you just watch the unbiased CNN coverage?

      People who get their brains blown out in China for dealing drugs just got what they deserved. Arresting people for serious anti-governmental action is actually a bloody good idea when you consider the population of the China with ballistic nuclear weapons. That way the nation at least stays stable and predictable (like the Soviets; now look at how CIA is blundering in the new post cold-war world).

      As far as the Russia go, don't deal in drugs, weapons or prostitutes and you don't have to worry about the Russian Mafia. They're in the business of making money, not looking for trouble.

    4. Re:Had to expect this... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow.
      You know so much. Why aren't you a judge here? Obviously, you can judge any and all situations with the greatest of ease. Sure - we should extend China's policy and execute drug dealers in the US too. And so what if the most populous country in the world represses the basic human freedoms, such as free speech, freedom of religion, freedom of association. In fact, according to you, that is a good idea. Either you are an idiot or it's a nice troll.

    5. Re:Had to expect this... by FrostedChaos · · Score: 1

      The point that I was trying to make is that the United States is not that bad compared to other countries. We have freedom of speech, assembly, and the press (not to mention adequate food and water.)

      If you think that the United States could be better, you're probably right. If you think that the DMCA is the worst law in the world, you're definitely wrong. And if you think, as the parent of the thread seemed to suggest, that Russia or China are better places to live than here, you're wrong again.

      --
      "Any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental." -Slashdot
  17. US Verses the World by Alien54 · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Wonder of Wonders. People outside the US have rights.

    God bless, what will happen next?

    Understand, this is a novel thought for some USians

    --
    "It is a greater offense to steal men's labor, than their clothes"
    1. Re:US Verses the World by Ivan+Raikov · · Score: 1

      Wonder of Wonders. People outside the US have rights.

      You mean, there are other countries out there, besides the US? :-)

    2. Re:US Verses the World by praedor · · Score: 2

      Ah, so when YOU are restricted in your behavior in country X because of US Law, you wont complain.


      The big problem with this sort of nonsense is that it restricts rights to the lowest common denominator. Who wants to be restricted to the "rights" of Iran? Saudi Arabia? China? (Name your country)?


      The US Constitution and Bill of Rights must must must trump ALL other laws and regulations - for US citizens. YOUR country's constitution should be the sole definer or YOUR rights too. You in country X should not be held to the laws of Afghanistan.


      Yeah, yeah, most of the WORST countries are not members of the WTO or WIPO...YET, but the PRINCIPAL is what is important. Do you want Europe to be subject to US patent and copyright laws? Say hello to Microsnot running your country the way it does the US. Kiss goodbye competitive industries you've developed in the absense of nonsensical US laws. It DOES flow both ways - if you are happy about YOUR laws applying/restricting US citizens, then you HAVE to be happy when the reverse is true.

      --
      In Bushworld, they struggle to keep church and state separate in Iraq as they increasingly merge the two in America.
    3. Re:US Verses the World by squiggleslash · · Score: 2
      Ah, so when YOU are restricted in your behavior in country X because of US Law, you wont complain.
      We've been complaining for years, dumbass.

      Was the author of DeCSS American? Was there a local law he violated in writing it?

      Was Dmitry Sklyarov American? Was there a local law he violated by writing the tool he did to remove the Adove access control system?

      This seems fair turnabout. Americans are having to live by other people's laws when they want to trade globally. Now you know how it feels.

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    4. Re:US Verses the World by Alien54 · · Score: 2
      The US Constitution and Bill of Rights must must must trump ALL other laws and regulations - for US citizens. YOUR country's constitution should be the sole definer or YOUR rights too. You in country X should not be held to the laws of Afghanistan.

      Well this gets into the issues of "it is alright to beat my wife" if for example when the tailban were in power.

      The simplest solution is that the laws of a country are valid for that country, and you are subject to their laws while you are there.

      The flip side of this is the lunacy of an american getting prosecuted in Tennesee for an adult website in San Fransico (actual case) but applied to the international level.

      --
      "It is a greater offense to steal men's labor, than their clothes"
    5. Re:US Verses the World by praedor · · Score: 2

      I wouldn't even BEGIN to defend the DeCSS or Sklyarov bullcrap. These together with the title story are what is WRONG and it is this that I decry. Also, I responded to the statement "Wonder of Wonders. People outside the US have rights" which by its context and word defended this bullcrap.


      If we wish to create global copyright and trademark, etc, rules/laws, then they should be based on some of the least restrictive rules rather than the most draconian (the US versions). The US has gone crazy and overboard with its corporatocracy-biased rules. Just because people across the pond have had US law improperly applied to them in their non-US residence doesn't make it OK or right and it doesn't make it OK and right to do the reverse. The entire setup is wrong and largely indefensible.


      The statement holds true: If you like the fact that a US citizen was restricted/punished based on some European law, then you absolutely CANNOT complain when the opposite is true. In fact, it sucks both ways but if your attitude is the above, you have no right to complain one way or another.

      --
      In Bushworld, they struggle to keep church and state separate in Iraq as they increasingly merge the two in America.
    6. Re:US Verses the World by English+Nazi · · Score: 0

      My principal in high school would argue that you meant to say "principle..."

    7. Re:US Verses the World by root2 · · Score: 1

      Err, praedor, meet sarcasm. Sarcasm, meet praedor. You two recognize each other the next time you meet, ok ?

    8. Re:US Verses the World by pnuema · · Score: 1

      The US Constitution and Bill of Rights must must must trump ALL other laws and regulations - for US citizens. YOUR country's constitution should be the sole definer or YOUR rights too.

      Sorry people, but I need to point something out here. From the United States Declaration of Independence..."We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with inherent and inalienable rights ..."

      The United States was founded with the idea that certain things transcend all terrestrial law. In other words, from the US point of view, certain US laws apply to everyone in the world. We don't care if your government doesn't recognize them - from our point of view such governments are not legitimate..."that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it".

      I'm sure this will really piss some people off. I (and I am sure many other Americans) simply don't care. The world would be a better place if these principles were followed.

      And before I am accused of being an American zealot, kudos to the French for authoring this line of thought. Truth and good ideas have no nationality.

    9. Re:US Verses the World by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hmm, I have to look into this. ;-)

  18. Does the law guide or replace? by CaseStudy · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Did the judge just look to Spanish law to help make his point, or did he specifically say that Spain had jurisdiction over the case?

    If the former, so what? Judges are guided by all sorts of things in their opinions. It's only in the application of the laws of the judge's jurisdiction that stare decisis applies.

    If the latter, why? The precedential effect will be in the choice of law, and why Spanish law was chosen over the ACPA is vitally important. (I get the impression that Spanish law was used merely to determine whether "Barcelona" was protectable by the ACPA.)

    1. Re:Does the law guide or replace? by seizer · · Score: 2

      When it comes down to it, the original registrants of barcelona.com were acting in extremely bad faith, and unbelievable though it may seem, the judge was clever enough to see that. There *is* room for interpretation in today's legal system, and the judge in this case seems to have been savvy enough to use that skill in association with the already existing laws.

      Is there an undertone in your comment which suggests that US interests should ALWAYS be favoured, when in competition with foreign ones? Is altruism completely absent from your thinking here? ;-)

    2. Re:Does the law guide or replace? by CaseStudy · · Score: 2

      No undertone; you're reading things into my comment that aren't there. (Or trying to get an "Insightful" mod by having the insight that there's more to the world than the U.S., but now I'm reading things into your comment.) You also seem to think I disagree with the judgment, which isn't the case.

      What I was saying is that, as I understand the case, the U.S. judge didn't need to supersede the law of his own jurisdiction to find that the registrants were acting in bad faith, contrary to what the Slashdot summary appeared to suggest, and this decision doesn't open the door to huge conflict-of-laws problems.

  19. The Wide Art Of Cunnilingus by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    INTRODUCTION

    .Eating .a .womans .pussy .is .about .the .most .wonderful .thing .you .can .do .for .her .STOP .It .makes .her .feel .loved .admired .sexy .and .of .course .it .makes .her .cum .like .crazy .STOP .Many .women .prefer .it .to .intercourse .and .for .most .it .is .the .easiest .way .to .cum .with .a .man .STOP .You .may .have .the .littlest .dick .on .the .planet .but .if .you .give .great .head .you .will .be .appreciated .as .a .fabulous .lover .STOP .Yes .its .that .important .STOP .Besides .lots .of .women .expect .it .these .days .you .might .as .well .know .what .youre .doing .STOP .First .off .guys .seem .to .have .a .strange .love .hate .relationship .with .womens .genitalia .STOP .Guys .that .cant .wait .to .get .their .dick .into .one .are .often .reluctant .to .put .their .face .down .there .STOP .For .every .guy .who .says .he .loves .to .eat .pussy .theres .another .one .whos .squeamish .STOP .Women .know .this .and .it .affects .their .ability .to .lay .back .and .enjoy .the .experience .STOP .There .is .nothing .more .exciting .to .a .woman .than .to .know .that .her .partner .finds .her .delicious .STOP .Dont .be .coy .tell .her .STOP .When .a .guy .fingers .a .lady .and .then .smells .licks .sucks .the .juice .off .his .finger .and .sighs .as .if .in .heaven .she .knows .this .is .her .lucky .day

    What if your sweet lady doesn't smell or taste very sweet? Don't suffer. (Don't complain, either.) Take a nice hot shower or bath together. Lather up both of your bodies and slide them together. It's like a whole body fuck. Soap up her vulva, washing between her outer and inner lips. Spread her lips apart and gently wash her clitoris. Hey, don't stop - this feels great! Run your soapy hand down the crack of her ass, and rub a finger all around her anus. You can stick one finger in and wash around inside too, if you anticipate any anal play, and I suggest you do. But don't put those soapy fingers up her vagina. Instead, rinse them off well and stick one or two inside, making a circular motion. Think about washing the inside of a tall glass - same thing. Now wasn't that fun? And now you can feel free to let your tongue wander anywhere it pleases...

    So now what? You've found a comfy spot to play, you've been kissing passionately, your tongues darting around each other's mouths like playful otters. You've moved down to nibble one of her hardening nipples and she's starting to groan, grinding her pelvis against your stomach. STOP. I know it was just starting to get good. But was she really groaning and humping you, or was it your own excitement you were detecting? I strongly prefer to be excited before a guy starts plunging his tongue into my inner recesses. Use your judgement, and kiss, lick, and fondle your way down her stomach, up her thighs, until she's arching up her back trying to get you to eat her. Of course, if she really was groaning and grinding, go for it... I also don't particularly enjoy a guy endlessly nibbling my inner thigh while my clit is quivering in anticipation.

    POSITIONS

    If the woman you are with is somewhat hesitant about your going down on her, start off with her lying on her back, perhaps half-sitting. Lay down between her legs, with her legs over your shoulders. She may enjoy laying or sitting at the edge of the bed with you kneeling. She can also straddle your face, but be prepared to get very wet. There are endless varieties of positions where you can press your face up to her cunt, some of which strike me as more acrobatic than erotic, but feel free to experiment. And then there's 69...

    69 is one of my favorite positions. On the plus side, you both get to enjoy the sublime sensations of getting head, simultaneously. The upside down positioning of a woman's pussy and your mouth is an easy fit and there's more room for your hands. On the negative side, it's a less than ideal position for a woman to give head. Plus, if you need to read this article, you may be better off concentrating your energies on pleasing her, without too much distraction. But even for experienced 69'ers, it's easy to short-change your partner. "It feels soooo good, I'm just gonna stop for a second and concentrate on what you're...aaaarrrgghhh". Get the picture? Some show of will-power is in order.

    69 can be done male on top, female on top, or side by side. The latter two are easier, though it's more restful with both partners laying down. Some women love being licked on all fours, so if female-on-top 69 drives her wild, take the hint and find some other ways to eat her in this position. I happen to enjoy male on top, but for many women this is a sure choking position. If a woman can, or wants to try, to deep throat you, this is THE position. When her head is thrust back you can really slide your cock all the way down her throat. But don't forget what you're supposed to be doing!

    So there you are staring at it - the mysterious hole from whence you came, and into which you hope to cum again... First, an anatomy lesson...

    THE CLITORIS

    Before I go any further, a few words about the clitoris, accent on the first syllable. Most of you know it, but for those who don't, it is THE woman's sex organ, period. It may feel great to be fucked vaginally, anally or otherwise, but if the stimulation is not right there, on the clitoris, you're ignoring the place that's going to make her cum, and presumably that's why you're reading this, right? It's right there at the top juncture of her inner lips, a small knob of pink flesh. This is where it's at boys, and don't forget it. Almost any licking and sucking of the labia or vaginal entrance is going to feel just dandy; just remember that this is pleasurable teasing, not the main event. I can't tell you how many guys have thrust their tongues up my vagina thinking that this was going to make me cum. They were wrong. Of course, with a little manual stimulation....but I'm getting ahead of myself.

    Women feel differently about how much direct stimulation they can take on their clitoris. Some women will adore it if you suck hard on their exposed clits, others will shriek in pain. You may encounter a woman who is completely unable to take direct stimulation of her clit; the goal is still the same, but you'll have to stimulate it indirectly, such as through her labia. IMPORTANT NOTE: Often, what is unacceptably rough at first may be fine after she's very excited. The fact is, most women really need a good bit of stimulation before a targeted attack on their clitoris, but once they're there, that's where you want to devote your attention.

    The key here is go slow, ask questions, and if she's comfortable with it, leave the lights on and really explore. Body language often does tell what feels best, but I promise, she will appreciate your attentiveness if you ask outright. If she seems shy, get her to guide your hands and mouth with her own hand, and pay attention. If she starts bucking up against your mouth and gasping in ragged little breaths, for God's sake, don't use this opportunity to try something different. Just keep doing exactly what you're doing.

    THE TONGUE

    I want to reiterate, there is almost nothing you can do that won't feel terrific, so relax! I promise, you may be confused and uncertain, but she's in heaven. Any licking and sucking of the labia, vaginal entrance, clitoris, or anal area is going to feel just great, and I'd no sooner tell guys to "do it exactly like this" than I would tell every chef to follow the same recipe. But for those who are compelled to RTFM, here are a few techniques that you might like to try:

    Try lapping her pussy from vaginal entrance up to her clit, leaving your tongue soft and jaw relaxed. This is a good way to start your tonguing.
    Run your tongue between the inner and outer labia on one side, while holding the two together with your lips. Good job, now do the other side.
    Fuck her pussy with your tongue - in and out, around and around, etc. This feels nice. Not wonderful or incredible or earth-shaking; nice.
    Spread her outer lips with your hand. Then, with your tongue pointed and stiff, gently flick here and there. Feel free to roam, but keep coming back to her clit. This drives some women wild, and others can't take it. Some may prefer that you always leave your tongue soft, so when you try this, pay attention to whether those moans are ecstacy or pain.
    The following techniques should not be introduced until your partner is really hot (i.e. she's no longer coherent). These are very intense actions which may be "too much" for some women, even when nearing orgasm.

    With her clit still exposed, give it a quick little suck - pulling it into your mouth briefly and letting it go. This is a lot like licking a bit of cake batter off of your pinky. This feels incredible, and is a fine thing to do if you feel like torturing her (see PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER below).
    Take her exposed clit into your mouth and gently (at first, anyway) suck on it, simultaneously flicking your tongue over and around it. This can be done very lightly or very aggressively, and combined with fingering, will usually rapidly produce an intense orgasm.
    Another choice technique involves rolling your tongue into a tube. If you can't do this with your tongue, you can't learn it - it's genetic. For those who can, this works best in an inverted or 69 position. Roll your tongue into a tube around the shaft of her clitoris. Slide it up and down; in effect, your tongue makes a tiny pussy for her clit to fuck. This also is likely to bring her over the edge.
    FINGERS
    Fingers are a valuable adjunct to eating pussy. Most women masturbate by pressing a finger or fingers over their clit, possibly "thru" the skin of their inner or outer lips, and vigorously rubbing in a circular or back-and-forth direction. You can do this too, and it is most helpful to ask, or better yet, have her show you how she likes it done. You will never be a good lover until you can bring your woman to climax with your hands. When you fuck her from behind, or up her ass, or really in any position which doesn't allow her to simultaneously rub her vulva against your body, reach down or around and rub her clit. I know it's distracting, but just do it anyway. One important point to note: make sure that your fingers are well lubricated. There is nothing more uncomfortable (and sometimes downright painful) than a dry finger roughly rubbed across one's clitoris.

    Of course, that's not all you can do with your fingers. One technique which is very exciting is to spread her lips wide apart with one hand, and with your index finger straight like a pencil, flick the side of it rapidly across her clit. This motion alone will often bring a woman to orgasm. Combining this with the addition of some tongue action elsewhere is nothing short of bliss.

    Sticking one or more fingers inside her vagina is also wonderful. You can simply move them in and out (this feels best with at least two or three fingers, pushed in hard), or wriggling them around. A particularly intense motion is to face your hand so that you have two fingers inside her with your palm facing the front of her body. Now move your fingers rapidly, as if waving hello. You are aiming to stimulate a particular part of the woman's vagina - namely the lower anterior (front) part. When combined with sucking her clit, this is nearly certain to bring her to a fast and intense climax.

    An excellent way to begin manual stimulation is to stick one (and later two) fingers inside her, with your palm cupped over the mons area. I'm talking about that fleshy "mound" over her pubic bone. Your finger goes in and out and the ball of your hand is pressed hard against her vulva. You may want to rub or even shake the entire area with your palm.

    Fingers also do nice things to tight little butt holes, but that's a whole other story...

    ANAL PLAY

    This stuff is purely optional. If anal play doesn't turn you on, don't do it. If you're uncomfortable, she'll pick up on your feelings and start wondering if it's her pussy that's turning you off. Don't feel that you can't be a good lover without anal play; you can.

    Cleanliness is of the essence. (remember that nice soapy shower?) Scoop out some luscious juices (from a very wet pussy) with your finger and rub it around her anus. (If she isn't well lubricated, saliva works too.) If that's all you or she feels comfortable with, fine - it still feels great. But I think most women enjoy the feel of a finger pushed up their ass while they're being fucked or eaten. You need to be gentle, possibly even leaving your finger still. Try moving it in and out a little, or around in a circle. If she starts moaning, you know you're doing something right.

    It's really fun to feel a woman's anus rhythmically squeezing your finger as she cums. (And it's great for her, too) You're probably thinking about what that would feel like around your dick, and it's something you should certainly explore. Ass-fucking is somewhat out of the scope of this article, but suffice to say, if she doesn't like a finger up her butt, she sure as hell won't want your big dick up there. Even if she does enjoy this sort of play, she may still be somewhat apprehensive about putting something so large up there. The keys to success are sufficient (i.e. copious amounts of) lubrication (a water-soluble type such as K-Y, which is safe for condoms), relaxation on her part, and a slow, gentle, approach. She'll certainly tell you if she wants you to thrust harder or deeper. And remember, if you want to feel that delicious squeezing around your cock, reach around and diddle that clit!

    As for anallingus - why not? Don't feel like you HAVE to do it to satisfy your woman. But if the idea turns you on, great. Let your tongue rove as it pleases. It's not necessary to actually put your tongue inside her butt to stimulate the area. Back and forth, around and around, you get the picture.

    One hygiene note: once that finger (or your penis) has been inside her ass, don't even think about putting it anywhere else. Carelessness in this regard can cause a horrendous infection.

    MENSTRUATION

    I haven't met a lot of men who are completely comfortable going down on a woman when she has her period. But some are. Most women are at their horniest before and sometimes during their period. You should definitely find a way to make her cum when she's bleeding, be it thru intercourse, manual, or oral stimulation. If you feel comfortable going down on her, great. It's perfectly safe. You may suggest that she insert a tampon, and then wash up. (As you now know, you don't need to get anywhere near her vagina to make her cum.) Or you could lay down a few old towels, turn out the lights, and forget about it.

    PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

    I think variety is crucial. Some guy posted an article detailing a road map of kissing and licking (first here, then here, etc.) Much better to do the unexpected; sometimes a hungry, aggressive approach, other times a laid-back, leisurely one. You can even even include your nose, or your chin into the act. Start slow, that's the key, and let your lover guide the speed of the crescendo. In all cases, start gently. Roughness and clumsiness are big turn-offs. As she gets more and more excited, pay more attention to her clitoris. When she's three breathes away from cumming, moving your mouth off or away from her clit is agony. That's fine if you're intentionally torturing her, just understand that this is what you are doing. The only prohibition is to be reasonably gentle with her clit. Nibbling or biting is fine elsewhere, but we're talking about a sensitive spot.

    Speaking of prolonging the agony... I think this is great fun. Bring your partner just to the edge of orgasm, and stop. This is not easy unless you really know your lover well. Instead, just have her help you. Say, "Grab my head and stop me just before you think you're gonna cum." Then take your sweet time. Blow on her clit, take it into your mouth just briefly, flick it just the very slightest bit. You will have this woman squirming and moaning like she's dying. Finger her deeply, enjoy the ecstasy you are imparting, and finally, have pity. Let the poor woman cum.

    UUUUNNNNGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!! (or, I'M COMING!!!)

    Okay, she's practically suffocating you, she's pressed so hard against your face; she's screaming and bucking up in the air; you feel her pussy contracting wildly - how long should you keep it up?? The simple answer is, until she makes you stop. Some women may stop you after five seconds from the start of their climax, others may be able to roll right into another orgasm if you keep going. Do come up for air, but remember, her excitement does not drop off as sharply as yours does. Play it safe by continuing the stimulation.

    How many times does she need to cum? Some women are very content to have one orgasm. A whole lot of women would really like to cum again, but need about five minutes to recoup. Many women are so sensitive right after they cum that they may push your head violently away. This doesn't necessarily mean they've had enough, only that you need to stop for a few minutes. In fact most women, given a short rest between, are capable of cumming again and again. A smaller percentage of women are able to cum repeatedly with continued stimulation. This is the much-touted multiple-orgasm that is experienced by a minority of women. I know this makes it difficult to know when enough is enough, but there's a simple answer: ask her.

    GODI'MSOEXCITEDITFEELSGREATBUTIJUSTCAN'TCOME

    It happens to all of us sometimes - distraction, embarrassment, anxiety, or just an inability to "let go". What do you do about it? The first question is, can she easily bring herself to a climax in the privacy of her own home. If the answer is no - then she needs to do some homework. There are two books on the subject that I know of: For Yourself: The Fulfillment of Female Sexuality by Lonnie Barbach, and Sex for One: The Joy of Selfloving by Betty Dodson; pick up one. Then tell her to read it, study it, and practice, practice, practice!

    Now if your partner is orgasmic only when alone - ask her point blank: "Is there something different I can do?" Many women are shy about criticizing their lovers, but if asked outright will surprise you with a very specific answer. It may be a simple matter of mechanics, like a little to right please, or not so rough, or more pressure and faster. Ah... perfect.

    But suppose everything is wonderful. She says you're doing everything right but she just can't cum. There are two probable causes: selfconsciousness and/or self-loathing. For women who can't help watching themselves, the best approach is to eliminate anything that focuses her attention on what the two of you are doing. This is a "be here now" kind of thing - definitely not an introspective activity. Get that mirror off the ceiling. Dim the lights or turn them off completely. Put on some soft music. Share a glass of port. (I said A glass - getting drunk will definitely not help). Have her lay on her back, or propped up comfortably with some pillows. This is not the time for her to sit on your face, or the edge of the bed, or standing up against a wall. Arrange a time when you can devote a long period to eating her pussy, and then just keep it up. Forget everything I said about asking her questions - just close your eyes and get into it. I know this can be a difficult and exhausting exercise, but she will be extravagantly thankful for your efforts. It gets easier each time. If all else fails, get accustomed to masturbating together. Gradually begin to add your stimulation to her own, right before she's about to cum anyway. Over time, you can take over completely.

    For women who themselves feel that their cunts are dirty or distasteful, all of the above methods may be helpful, but the underlying issue must also be addressed. I am amazed at how many women are ambivalent about their own genitals. They don't love "that part" of their body, and they can't believe that you would either. Yes, it is important to be clean. But clean means a daily shower which includes washing the vulva. It doesn't mean vainly attempting to remove every trace of smell or taste. The natural fragrance and secretions of a healthy woman are beautiful and erotic. Hopefully you agree (and if not, try hard to cultivate this attitude). When she learns to love her pussy, she will be infinitely more comfortable with your loving it too.

    How to Eat Pussy

    Hey, I have a lot of respect for all you guys who like to eat pussy because there are too few of you out there. And I'm not the only woman who says this. Furthermore, some of you guys who are giving it the old college try are not doing too well, so maybe this little lesson will help you out. When a woman finds a man who gives good head, she's found a treasure she's not going to let go of too quickly. This is one rare customer and she knows it. She won't even tell her girlfriends about it or that guy will become the most popular man in town. So, remember, most guys can fuck, and those who can usually do it satisfactorily, but the guy who gives good head, he's got it made.

    Most women are shy about their bodies. Even if you've got the world's most gorgeous woman in bed with you, she's going to worry about how you like her body. Tell her it's beautiful, tell her which parts you like best, tell her anything, but get her to trust you enough to let you down between her legs.

    Now stop and look at what you see. Beautiful, isn't it? There is nothing that makes a woman more unique than her pussy. I know. I've seen plenty of them. They come in all different sizes, colors and shapes; some are tucked inside like a little girl's cunnie and some have thick luscious lips that come out to greet you. Some are nested in brushes of fur and others are covered with transparent fuzz. Appreciate your woman's unique qualities and tell her what makes her special.

    Women are a good deal more verbal than men, especially during love-making. They also respond more to verbal love, which means, the more you talk to her, the easier it will be to get her off. So all the time you're petting and stroking her beautiful pussy, talk to her about it.

    Now look at it again. Gently pull the lips apart and look at her inner lips, even lick them if you want to. Now spread the tops of her pussy up until you can find her clit. Women have clits in all different sizes, just like you guys have different sized cocks. It doesn't mean a thing as far as her capacity for orgasm. All it means is more of her is hidden underneath her foreskin.

    Whenever you touch a woman's pussy, make sure your finger is wet. You can lick it or moisten it with juices from inside her. Be sure, by all means, to wet it before you touch her clit because it doesn't have any juices of it's own and it's extremely sensitive. Your finger will stick to it if it's dry and that hurts. But you don't want to touch her clit anyway. You have to work up to that. Before she becomes aroused, her clit is too delicate to be handled.

    Approach her pussy slowly. Women, even more so than men, love to be teased. The inner part of her thigh is her most tender spot. Lick it, kiss it, make designs on it with the tip of your tongue. Come dangerously close to her pussy, then float away. Make her anticipate it.

    Now lick the crease where her leg joins her pussy. Nuzzle your face into her bush. Brush your lips over her slit without pressing down on it to further excite her. After you've done this to the point where your lady is bucking up from her seat and she's straining to get more of you closer to her, then put your lips right on top of her slit.

    Kiss her, gently, then harder. Now use your tongue to separate her pussy lips and when she opens up, run your tongue up and down between the layers of pussy flesh. Gently spread her legs more with your hands. Everything you do with a woman you're about to eat must be done gently.

    Tongue-fuck her. This feels define. It also teases the hell out of her because by now she wants some attention given to her clit. Check it out. See if her clit has gotten hard enough to peek out of it's covering. If so, lick it. If you can't see it, it might still be waiting for you underneath. So bring your tongue up tot he top of her slit and feel for her clit. You may barely experience it's presence. But even if you can't feel the tiny pearl, you can make it rise by licking the skin that covers it. Lick hard now and press into her skin.

    Gently pull the pussy lips away and flick your tongue against the clit, hood covered or not. Do this quickly. This should cause her legs to shudder. When you sense she's getting up there toward orgasm, make your lips into an O and take the clit into your mouth. Start to suck gently and watch your lady's face for her reaction. If she can handle it, begin to suck harder. If she digs it, suck even harder. Go with her. If she lifts her pelvis into the air with the tension of her rising orgasm, move with her, don't fight her. Hang on, and keep your hot mouth on her clit. Don't let go. That's what she'll be saying too: 'Don't stop. Don't ever stop!'

    There's a reason for that, most men stop too soon. Just like with cock sucking, this is something worth learning about and worth learning to do well. I know a man who's a lousy fuck, simply lousy, but he can eat pussy like nobody I know and he never has trouble getting a date. Girls are falling all over him.

    But back to your pussy eating session...There's another thing you can do to intensify your woman's pleasure. You can finger-fuck her while she's enjoying your clit-licking talents. Before, curing or after. She'll really like it. In addition to the erogenous zones surrounding her clit, a woman has another extremely sensitive area at the roof of her vagina. This is what you rub up against when you're fucking her. Well, since your cock is pretty far away from your mouth, your fingers will have to do the fucking.

    Take two fingers. One is too skinny and three is too wide and therefore can't get deep enough. Make sure they're wet so you don't irritate her skin. Slide them inside, slowly at first, then a little faster. Fuck her with them rhythmically. Speed up only when she does. Listen to her breathing.

    She'll let you know what to do. If you're sucking her clit and finger-fucking her at the same time, you're giving her far more stimulation than you would be giving her with your cock alone. So you can count on it that she's getting high on this. If there's any doubt, check her out for symptoms. Each woman is unique. You may have one who's nipples get hard when she's excited or only when she's having an orgasm. Your girl might flush red or begin to tremble. Get to know her symptoms and you'll be a more sensitive lover.

    When she starts to have an orgasm, for heaven's sakes, don't let go of that clit. Hang in there for the duration. When she starts to come down from the first orgasm, press your tongue along the underside of the clit, leaving your lips covering the top. Move your tongue in and out of her cunt. If your fingers are inside, move them a little too, gently though, things are extremely sensitive just now.

    If you play your cards right, you'll get some multiple orgasms this way. A woman stays excited for a full hour after she's had an orgasm. Do you realize the full impact of that information? The potential? One woman was clocked at 56 orgasms at one sitting. Do you know what effect you would have on a woman you gave 56 orgasms to? She'd be yours as long as you wanted her.

    The last advice I have for you is this: After you've made her come, make her your slave by giving her the best head she's ever had, don't leave her alone just yet. Talk to her, stroke her body, caress her breasts. Keep making love to her quietly until she's come all the way down. A man can get off and go to sleep in the same breath and feel no remorse, no sense of loss. But a woman by nature requires some sensitivity from her lover in those first few moments after sex.

    Oral sex can be the most exciting sexual experiences you can have. But it's what you make it. Take your time, practice often, pay attention to your lover's signals, and most of all, enjoy yourself.

    Female Oral Sex Techniques

    TASTE:

    In my experience, one of the main reasons that partners avoid female oral sex is due to a percieved or even experienced poor taste. While it is true that women run the range from pleasant (tasty!) to sour or uric tasting, there are easy steps to ensure that your partner will be tasting her sweetest.

    First and most obviously, a good vigorous shower will do much to neutralize the taste of your partner. In fact, oral sex in the shower, while not a favorite method of mine, has a completely neutral taste if you stick to the upper regions of your partner's sex. If your partner has not showered recently, or has physically exerted herself recently, her taste will be much stronger. This, however, can be a good thing!

    Secondly, foreplay will improve upon both the taste and the experience in general if your can get her juices flowing. I have never found an extremely aroused, wet woman to taste unpleasant. Quite the contrary!

    FOREPLAY:

    Do it! Take your time! Have fun! Experiment! A common male misunderstanding is that females are aroused most through physical contact. Not true. I have aroused women greatly simply by acting sexy. Tension is a wonderful tool, use it. If you can build tension to the point where the barest touch sends electric shivers through both of you, you can't lose! Similarly, even the best love techniques will not turn on a woman who isn't in the mood. (If you can get her in the mood, well then you're talking.)

    Take your time, explore your partner (there's a lot more there than nipples and a clitoris!), build tension, have fun.

    POSITIONS:

    There are two basic positions that I have found very versitile and succesful. For a very comfortable session, have her lie on her back with legs spread and knees bent slightly. Lie on your stomach between her legs, put your right arm under her left leg and your left arm under her right - somewhat of an intimate hug. Now you should find your head situated conveniently and comfortably near the center of your attention.

    Less comfortable, but a bit wilder is the following. Lie on your back, prop a couple of pillows (or fold one over) under your head. Have your partner kneel facing you with one knee on each side of your head, above your shoulders. The sexy part of this position (IMHO) is that your partner can look down at you and watch you eating her out. (Yum) Versatility and comfort are reduced for the giver, so I only occasionally partake in this position.

    These are by no means the only positions. Again, experiment, have fun. If you can find a bed where your partner can lie down with her legs dangling off the bed and resting flat on the floor, you're in luck. Now you can have her sit just at the edge of the bed, lie back, and give you plenty of access while you kneel/sit in front of her sex.

    GEOGRAPHY:

    Woman are very different in some respects of their genitalia, but the major parts are the same. A woman's sex from the oral sex point of view consists of two sets of lips (outer and inner) that meet just below the vaginal opening and some variable distance above the clitoris; the vaginal opening (immediately above the nether meeting of above-mentioned lips), a smooth section of skin between the vaginal opening and the clitoris (I have no clue as to its technical name, hereafter it will be refered to as the "scav") and the clitoris and its surrounding folds.

    If you get the chance, explore your partner in a location with decent lighting. Use your hand to spread her sex and explore her, find out what's where and what's what. Like I said earlier, women are different. Especially the location and shape of the clitoris. It can be buried, protruding, surrounded by many folds of flesh, or hanging out it the open. The best method I have found for finding your partner's clitoris (If all else fails, ask!), is to place a finger at the very base of her sex and gently run it up her scav until you feel a slight bump. That's it.

    OK, ENOUGH OF THE DETAILS, NOW THE NITTY-GRITTY:

    So your partner is showered, excited and feeling sexy. It's the big moment, what to do? Don't simply dive in. Take your time, excite her. In my opinion, I can usually tell how good my partner is at oral sex by how she "goes down" on me. By "going down" I mean the process by which she goes from kising my lips to sucking oh-so-wonderfully on my sex.

    Depending on your partner, different methods of going down will work more effectively. If you've gotten to this point with your partner, you should have a fair idea of what she likes. Take advantage of that knowledge. One thing that I highly recommend however, is a sexy look. Sexy looks can make all the difference, and the best place to throw one in is as you're licking, sucking and kissing your way down her stomach stop, look up and smile devilishly.

    Unbutton your partners jean's, pull the tabs back and kiss her newly exposed flesh. Unzip her pants, pull the tabs back as far as they can go and place light, tender kisses on her abdomen and around the top of her panties. Watch it, some women are very ticklish here!

    (Note the above doesn't work so well if she doesn't have jeans on but you're all smart enough to figure it out...) Once you've removed everything but her panties, stop. You have a unique opportunity for further arousal. Kiss her legs and inner thighs with gentle kisses. Work your way up each leg and make a point of stopping at the line of her underwear. Kiss again along the top of her underwear, and along the other two borders.

    Now move to her cotton (silk? lace? latex?) covered sex. Plant firm, dry kisses through her underwear on her sex, low and right around the vaginal entrance works best for me. If your partner is really excited, often her underwear will be damp and will smell (pleasantly) of her sex.

    Removing the underwear is again a matter of choice. You know your partner best, I prefer either gently sliding it all the way off with my fingers, or pulling it part way down with my teeth first.

    DIRECT KISSING:

    It is not unusual for your partner's lips to be closed together. A very excited woman's lips may be slightly spread allready ("pouting"). Again, building tension can be accomplished by light kisses on either side of her sex as well as light blowing. (Do not inflate your partner! This can be very dangerous!!) Spreading her lips can be accomplished by placing your tongue first at the base of her sex, and then firmly running your tongue all the way up. Continue with a few long licks from the base of her sex all the way to the top past her clitoris. Vary the firmness of your tongue from hard and pointed to broad and soft.

    THE BIG "O":

    The best and most proven method of making your partner cum through oral sex is by repeated, rythmic stroking of her clitoris with your tongue. The tongue is uniquely suited for this purpose because of it's texture, versatility, and pliability. It is difficult (and tiring) to apply too much pressure to your partner's clitoris. Some women are much more sensitive than others however. Be receptive to any sharp gasps, you could be being too affectionate. If this is the case, move away from direct contact or adopt a gentler technique.

    Repeated, rythmic stroking can be accomplished in a variety of ways. I prefer either rapid, repeated verticle licks with a firm, pointed tongue, or planting your tongue firmly against your partner's clitoris and vigorously shaking your head back and forth. (Tiring, maybe. But it's worth it!) If you are having trouble finding the correct angle or method for rhythmically lingually carresing her clitoris, or if you want to try something fun and new:

    Toungue the abc's. No seriously! This is a great oral excercise on any part of the body. Toungue the abc's starting with lower case, and moving though upper case. (Heck, you could do the whole ANSI ASCII set if you'd like!) Be especially perceptive while you do this, vary your speed and watch for sharp intakes of breath - chances are you've hit the right angle. The abc's give a large variety of different strokes, so come back to this excersize as often as you'd like.

    A general rule of thumb (tongue?) is to start slow and pick up the pace as you go along. This is definately a general rule though, feel free to break it by varying your rhythm, both slowly and predictably as well as quickly and startlingly.

    OTHER FUN THINGS TO DO:

    Lick between the inner and outer lips; penetrate the vagina deeply (a much stronger, iron-like taste here); "tease" the entrance to her vagina with rapid pokes of your toungue at varying depths; don't forget your hands, often a woman will feel a need or ache for something inside of her while very aroused, oblige her with a finger or two. Both kissing and manually manipulating your partner is tough, anyone with succesful methods is welcome to pipe in.

    Talk to your partner, ask her what she likes. Experiment (if you can) with many different partners. What excites one woman a lot may not excite another as much, but may still be well worth trying. On the other hand, you may not notice a subtle pleasurable technique on one woman that can be easily learned on another. The better you know your parnter, the more effectively you can please her. Have fun!

    A FINAL NOTE:

    I tried to be a lot less pretentious than the male version of this article for a few reasons. The major one is that women are very different, the above suggestions may work wonderfully with one woman and so-so with another. Some women simply aren't responsive to oral sex due to strong moral constraints. Secondly, I am not an expert, though I love oral sex and have had the joy of pleasuring 10-20 women. Third, I am still young (18) and have a lot to learn.

    So feel free to comment on what you've read (men and women) and reply either over the net or to me personally. Thanks. Hope you found this helpfull and enjoy!

    Q. What is cunnilingus?

    Cunnilingus is the fine art of making love to a vagina with your mouth and tongue. It is a delicate skill, requiring patience, practice, and dedication to get it right, but any woman you learn to do it right for will appreciate you all the more for it.

    What applies to the penis applies to the vulva-- every one is different, requiring a different touch to make its owner happy. But few tools can equal the tongue for the amount of pleasure it can deliver to a happy vagina.

    This article assumes that you know what a vulva looks like and can identify with some precision the mons veneris, labia majora, clitoral hood, clitoris, labia minora, urethra, vagina, and perineum, to name them (approximately) from top to bottom.

    Q. How fast should I go?

    This isn't an attack. Don't go after the clitoris like a fireman attacking a fire. Quite often at first, the clitoris is far too sensitive for direct stimulation. Lick around it, stimulating the hood, teasing her inner labia, tasting her. Take your time and listen to her. Some women make noise, and some do not. It will be a while before you learn exactly what your lover prefers as far as oral sex is concerned.

    Some women may like additional stimulation-- a finger or two into the vagina, or perhaps even the anus. She may want your hands to reach up and play with her breasts, or she may want your fingers to hold her labia apart so that your tongue can get at her vulva more directly.

    Q. I've heard cunnilingus doesn't taste good.

    If the taste or smell bothers you or is a concern, ask her to wash first. Most people who enjoy cunnilingus agree that a clean vagina is a good, if acquired, taste.

    As a woman nears her climax, she may want more direct stimulation. In general, fast, rhythmic stimulation is most effective at causing climax-- but there shouldn't be a rush to get there. Take your time and learn to appreciate what you can do for her.

    Q. What about cunnilingus during menstruation?

    Some people are particularly turned off at the suggestion of cunnilingus during menstruation. If it is a concern to you, then wait. A tampon may well hold the blood back, as will a diaphragm, but some men can't stand the taste anyway. If your partner is healthy, however, there is no particular danger in menstrual blood, and some women find that orgasms during their periods allievate cramps.

    In my experience, when you try to explain to a man "in the moment" that he is doing oral sex (or sometimes anything) wrong, often the result is a disaster. You aren't into it, because you are trying to direct, and I guess for many guys it comes off as simply insulting. It isn't a very "supportive process," to borrow a friend's phraseology.

    Example: "No, not there,...there..." (Quizzical looks, no change in behavior.)

    Now, if you go looking for diagrams of women's vaginas, you will find yourself either looking at medical textbooks or special references, such as Our Bodies, Ourselves --- which, is presented as a "for women only" sort of thing. The original edition even gave this little rap to men about not buying it "for" women. Yeesh! Good book, but talk about "attitude." The new edition has thankfully dropped this negative proscription.

    You will sometimes NOT even find a clear picture of a woman's vagina in a general sex reference, such as the original The Joy of Sex. And you won't find a discussion of the parts of the vulva in most places. Now, go look for a picture of a man's penis that is reasonably edifying, and you'll find them all over. I only discovered this when I tried to look it up, and since I had never purchased Our Bodies, Ourselves, I was SOL (corrected that, recently). I however, and all women, have a ready-made "reference manual," provided we have gotten over the idea, or never had it, that looking at it will somehow be a "bad thing." Men don't have this reference manual readily "at hand," at least if their partner, if they have one, is not immediately available and cooperative.

    I have also read, and just reread, the Cunnilingus FAQ. Though it seemed excellent in terms of mood, style of approach, all the "beginning" stuff, I found when I applied her technique suggestions to me and my experience as a recipient, or my experience as a giver, it was a bit short on specifics. I am sure the described approach works very well for the woman who wrote it :), but I have a few things that seem unsaid.

    So, you have gone through all the beginning motions, taking a reasonable amount of time, and you are starting to "get down to business." First, PLEASE turn on the lights. Working in the dark is for experts at best. I am assuming you are sitting between her legs, facing her, or some variation on this. Now really LOOK at what is there. Where her hair is (or was, some people shave) is the mons veneris, the pubic mound. If she is not aroused, everything is likely, but not guaranteed, to be enclosed within the outer lips or labia majora, the edges of the pubic mound that comes together to enclose her vulva.

    As you spread this apart (she can bring her knees up and out, and/or you can use your hands), you will now see the inner folds of skin of the vulva, the inner lips or labia minora. These (usually) go all around the vaginal opening, and come in a variety of interesting and pleasing shapes and textures.

    As you observe that this encircles the vaginal opening, at the top of this you will find what might look like a button or might look like a very tiny penis, covered by an additional flap of skin. The flap of skin is the "hood" of the clitoris, and is very sensitive, as is the clitoris. This is the female equivalent of the male foreskin, though it is much looser than that corresponding organ.

    If you see what looks like a button underneath the hood, then what you are seeing is the glans of the clitoris, exactly equivalent to your own penis glans, or head of the penis. If you see a bit more than that, then there is probably some of the shaft of the clitoris extending in your partner. I stress this since most men would not be particularly enthused by a blow job that only gave attention to their penis head and extended not a centimeter below there. Many might find it annoying or even painful, depending on how rough their partner is with them and how sensitive they are to pain in that area. However, told "give attention to the clitoris," by fable and book, many brave soldiers run to do battle on the field of their woman's desires with their tongue, only to find their partner is telling them to please stop, it hurts, or it doesn't do anything for me. This may or may not be a comment on your technique, some women don't like oral sex. I would just like to suggest an approach that probably has a higher average success rate.

    The shaft of the clitoris is attached internally, back into the body of the woman. Pressure on the spot above the glans and underneath the hood will generally give you access to the part of the shaft equivalent to the part of your penis that is towards your body, whereas underneath the glans will give you access to the part of the shaft that is equivalent to the part of your penis that is away from your body. It is likely that the skin directly below the glans will be functionally equivalent to what is for most men the most sensitive and pleasurable part of the penis for play, and the inner vaginal lips are also usually quite sensitive "in a good way." Going down/in/back, you may or may not see the urethra, if you do this is the location of the grafenberg spot (g-spot), which we have all heard on this newsgroup is quite varied in response, some women love stimulation there, others do not. Try licking your tongue around there, if it is visible, and see, in the course of your "investigations."

    O.K., so now you have the picture. You did trim/file your nails first, didn't you? Play with your hands, play with your mouth, go all over, gently at first, increasing stimulation and focus as her body responds, and coming in "closer on" the clitoral area as she becomes more aroused. Lick, suck, point your tongue and apply pressure, use it like a "miniature penis" under the glans, penetrating her as you go, make little circles with your tongue, lick up and down along the skin in front of the clitoris, up and down the inner vaginal lips, etc. These are ideas, find some others, listen to her responses and comments. Remember to GO SLOW --- I believe impatience and expectations of quick response are "generally recognized as" the most common error in sexual encounters. Eventually the clitoris will become probably become erect, and stimulation that is "more direct" (like enclosing your mouth on the area and gently sucking) will stimulate a sufficient amount of the organ in question to be interesting. Watch what you are doing, and what happens, the entire area will become "engorged" and swollen if things are proceeding closer to orgasm.

    Some women may not, or may prefer not, to orgasm this way. Most will probably, however, enjoy the experience a great deal. Hopefully this "explanation and comparison" to the corresponding male body parts will allow you to not be (still) in the dark with the lights on.

  20. The Contender by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    I just watched The Contender.

    What a lovely portrayal of the Republican party.

    1. Re:The Contender by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I just watched a porn flick.

      What a lovely portrayal of your Mom in action.

  21. Quartz.com? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Quartz.com looks like a legitimate website to me. There would be no case if I were the judge. First come, first served. Plus, .com is typically a US or LARGE multinational company TLD.

    There have to be a lot better submissions in the box than this one. Blame the new subscription service?

  22. cleveland.com is in trouble by perdida · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I am with Robertson on this one.

    The Internet is not a Dewey Decimal System library. The indexing and categorization of information, as it's manifested in the meaning in URLs, is a natural process. It happened due to geeks being funny, people trying to make money, and so on. We have the wonderful histories of sites like www.whitehouse.com, which brings up the question - is it true that people who want information on the web about the White House would not want to see a porno site? I don't think so.
    Protection from surprise on the Internet should not be the realm of the government, but the realm of the individual.

    1. Re:cleveland.com is in trouble by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      When it comes to "categorization of information" I thought .com was intended for commericial entities, with other extensions for geographical entities. Is the city of Barcelona now the same type of thing as IBM? Or has the original concept of different top level domains for different types of thing become totally meaningless?

    2. Re:cleveland.com is in trouble by Commienst · · Score: -1

      Dear Troll,

      We are plesed to inform you that, after careful consideration , we have accepted your troll into the Troll Library.

      You show a masterful skill at trolling.

      Thank you for your time and your contribution.

      --

      I am into the copy and paste.
  23. Stop being alarmist. by CaseStudy · · Score: 2

    Quartz.com has nothing to worry about, at least not from this law. Quartz J.S. cannot claim a trademark on "quartz" for its crystal, as it's either generic (if it's made from the mineral) or likely to confuse (if it isn't). On the other hand, quartz.com appears be a U.S. trademark (since adding ".com" to a generic name apparently creates something unique) for the National Scientific Co.

  24. You snooze...? by Vishniac · · Score: 1
    Anyone else think that companies should be a little quicker to register their own domain names? If cybersquatting is becoming that big of a problem, maybe domain name registration should become part of the process for a business license.

    As one poster said, the domain name system isn't the dewey decimal system of the web anyway. A web address doesn't have to be more descriptive than a brick and mortar store's physical street address. If you're stuck with "ambrosiasw.com" instead of just "ambrosia.com," you won't go out of business. Customers will find your website if you include the address on advertisements and products. Besides, blindly typing in URLs in the hope of finding the product you're looking for is a hit and miss method of surfing.

  25. hmmmm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So according to this genius of a judge, now I have to do a worldwide search of trademarks before picking a domain name? Wonderful...

    I happen to possess several state trademarks. After about 5 years, I plan on registering them as federal trademarks. What would be the result if someone in some far off land has the same trademark in their country? Would it be reasonable to assume that I would ever KNOW about that trademark? My state granted me the mark here, shouldn't they have checked first?

    Confusing... very confusing

  26. Isn't barcelona.es good enough for them? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I mean, it is a city in Spain, right? And there is a reason every country has a TLD, right? What do they need a .com for? Are they an American company?

  27. Quartz for all!!! by posmon · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Quartz J.S. is the biggest producer of soda-lime, crystal, neutral glass and crystalline. The company has traditions and experience in the production of different sorts colour and colourless glasses with high quality in order to satisfy the clients. In august, 1999 Quartz J.S become a private company. Sofia Intercommerce Ltd. is the only dealer represented Quartz Company all over the world. Photo gallery Today Quartz J.S. produces: Articles of 24% lead crystal glass with high quality - a wide range of hand-blown exquisite glasses, vases, fruit-bowls, ice buckets of different series and sorts. The hand cutting makes them really valuable. Lighting fixtures emphasize an aesthetic and snugness of each home, office, hotel and restaurant. The chandeliers, bracket lamps, table lamps, lampions are complete with own lampshades - one-layer glass, two-layer opal glass, frosted, with different decoration. Antiwetting, antidusting and signaling lamps. Tableware of crystalline: plates, fruit-bowls, ashtrays, utensils, etc.

    --

    update comments set karma=-1, reason='offtopic' where sid=26315

    1. Re:Quartz for all!!! by posmon · · Score: 1

      please, please mr moderator, can i have some crack too?

      --

      update comments set karma=-1, reason='offtopic' where sid=26315

  28. I'm stunned by Compulawyer · · Score: 2
    Since when do federal courts protect the "trademark" rights of foreign governmental entities in the names of geographic locations? I am stunned and amazed, shocked and apalled (and a whole bunch of other s & a word combinations) at this decision. I fail to see first how anyone but the most inexperienced newbie could believe a .com was the "official" site of a Spanish governmental entity (ok - maybe I'm giving people more credit than they deserve on this point).

    Nevertheless, at the least there are no trademark "rights" available to protect under Spanish law in the mere name "Barcelona," so this decision is based on literally nothing.

    &lt ON-SOAPBOX rant_level=3&gt

    This is the EXACT REASON why I continuously plead, beg, cajole, threaten, etc. all those in the tech community to get involved politically and legally. Lawyers and judges who do not understand technological and/or intellectual property rights (and believe me - those lawyers and judges are in the overkwhelming majority) pose clear and present dangers to the legal framework controlling the tech world because these people do not understand the issues enough to make informed decisions and do not (and cannot) comprehend the consequences of the positions they advocate and decisions they make. Each of us has a responsibility to educate these people to ensure that the law evolves in a way that fairly addresses the interests of not only the techies but society as a whole.

    &lt /ON-SOAPBOX rant_level=0&gt

    --

    Laws affecting technology will always be bad until enough techies become lawyers.

    1. Re:I'm stunned by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So, you don't think that this kind of legislation should not be applied internationally at all? Or that they should apply but only in the case that the interests of the USA justify it?

    2. Re:I'm stunned by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Since when is the .com domain the sole proprietorship of US corporations and entities? Why should american interests be protected on the INTERnet (inter, presumably standing for international) but not everyone else? You may call it "education" to tell your governmental representatives that .com domains should be for americans first, but to the rest of the world it is bullshit.

    3. Re:I'm stunned by Balinares · · Score: 2

      This is the EXACT REASON why I continuously plead, beg, cajole, threaten, etc. all those in the tech community to get involved politically and legally.

      You know, I think you're very, very right. I would actually want to do just that. I'm willing to drop everything and start a new career in, well, political tech counselling, or whatever you'll call it? Or whatever would be more efficient?
      However, one question stands:
      How?

      Your insight would be much appreciated. Thanks.

      --

      -- B.
      This sig does in fact not have the property it claims not to have.
    4. Re:I'm stunned by Compulawyer · · Score: 2

      Principles of Constitutional law require that the federal courts have LIMITED powers and jurisdiction. Congress also by the Constitution has limited powers. The federal courts have enough problems determining what a State's law is - never mind that of a foreign country. I also think that the Court inappropriately imports foreign law into a US statute with this decision. That interferes with the US's sovereignty.

      --

      Laws affecting technology will always be bad until enough techies become lawyers.

    5. Re:I'm stunned by Compulawyer · · Score: 2
      Try actually reading what I wrote and stop putting words in my mouth. I NEVER said that .com should be US only. I DID say that federal courts should not use a US statute to grant a foreign government rights in the US that it does not even have under that own government's laws.

      I also said that we need to educate lawmakers so they can make informed decisions. You made up the "Americans first" language - I didn't say that. Then again, if you didn't know that the bullshit was coming out of your own mouth, you wouldn't post as an AC.

      --

      Laws affecting technology will always be bad until enough techies become lawyers.

    6. Re:I'm stunned by Compulawyer · · Score: 2
      I only know what works for me and that is making sure when I argue in Court that I make sure that the judge before whom I argue has complete correct facts about the technology and the applicable law.

      If you want to get started in the way you describe, I suggest getting some basic exposure to lobbying efforts generally by contacting the Electronic Freedom Foundation or the ACLU's Cyber-Liberties group. They are much better suited to help you on your new carrer path than I.

      --

      Laws affecting technology will always be bad until enough techies become lawyers.

    7. Re:I'm stunned by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe he trolled you? Maybe you should just shut the fuck up, you gullible idiot?

    8. Re:I'm stunned by Compulawyer · · Score: 2

      Maybe the comment was misguided enough to warrant a response but not misguided enough to be a troll. Shut the fuck up yourself or stop posting AC.

      --

      Laws affecting technology will always be bad until enough techies become lawyers.

    9. Re:I'm stunned by Crapflooder · · Score: -1

      LONG LIVE HIS MOST EXALTED MAJESTY, HENGIST DUVAL, 15TH EMPEROR OF THE GALAXY AND OF MAN, FRIEND OF THE VICTIMS OF CRIME, HARD ON THE CAUSES OF CRIME.

      SUBMIT TO HIS MAJESTY'S INFINITE WISDOM.

      Please try to keep posts on topic. Try to reply to other people comments instead of starting new threads. Read other people's messages before posting your own to avoid simply duplicating what has already been said. Use a clear subject that describes what your message is about. Offtopic, Inflammatory, Inappropriate, Illegal, or Offensive comments might be moderated. (You can read everything, even moderated posts, by adjusting your threshold on the User Preferences Page)

      Problems regarding accounts or comment posting should be sent to CowboyNeal.

  29. Cybersquatting is not squatting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In the world of land ownership, squatters are peole who use land that they do not own. By that standard, a cybersquatter would be a person who uses a domain name that isn't registered to him. A so called 'Cybersquatter' who registers a domain name with the the expectation that someone else will want to use it is like a real estate speculator, who buys land with the hope of selling it later. Cyberinvestor would be a better term.

    1. Re:Cybersquatting is not squatting by cyril3 · · Score: 0
      IANAL but in Australia at least squatters were people who occupy land that was not owned and was therefore Crown (Federal?) land.

      Squatters hoped that governments won't evict them because they are doing something useful with otherwise unused land.

      'True' cybersquatters aren't trying to use the domain name better than anyone else, merely looking to make money out of a situation that arises fortuitously. So you're right, it's not squatting...It's extortion.

      I have no sympathy for them.

  30. You forgot bankers... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    soon to be an endangered species in moscow, the rate they are being shot...

  31. Exactly, If foreign companys want an address by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    that is why they have their own fucking country codes. Le Monde doesnt have any right to lemonde.com because they can get lemonde.fr. This whole internet thing is a crock of shit. Fucking morons. The whole world is made up of dipshits. Sadly i'm a part of this world (minus the dipshit part although others could argue).

    1. Re:Exactly, If foreign companys want an address by aridhol · · Score: 4, Insightful
      that is why they have their own fucking country codes.


      Funny, I thought the United States had a .us country code. Why should France use .fr if the United States can't use .us?
      --
      I can't say that I don't give a fuck. I've just run out of fuck to give.
    2. Re:Exactly, If foreign companys want an address by danielrose · · Score: 1

      You said exactly what I was thinking! Always with the "everyone has their own tld! we get to use .com!" shit.....

      --
      i hate pansy republicans
    3. Re:Exactly, If foreign companys want an address by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Have you tried the get a .us domain? The whole process is horribly crippled with this fucking retarded heiarchy system. Forget about mydomain.us, you'll have to settle for mydomain.mycity.mystate.us. instead... riiiiiight. To bad too, they're loosing a lot of business because of it.

      So unfortunately us Yankees don't have our own tld. We have to be stuck with sharing .net .org and .com.

      I'm not saying foreign countries should bugger off, I'm just saying that life just isn't fair sometimes.

      Personally I think the tld nonsense should just be anarchy. If I own mcdonalds.com I want to sell it to mcdonalds for 30 million and they are willing to cough up the dough, like hell I should have to give it up for free.

    4. Re:Exactly, If foreign companys want an address by AndrewRUK · · Score: 2, Insightful

      So basically, you messed up .us, so you want .com and that lot for yourselves? Why should the usa have any more right to the generic tld's than anyone else?

    5. Re:Exactly, If foreign companys want an address by danro · · Score: 1

      And just what makes you think that the other .xx domains aren't fucked up too?
      The .se (Sweden) domain suffers a lot of the same problems as the .us domain. That means anyone that can uses a .com, .org, .net or .nu (Niue) domain instead.
      (fyi: "nu" means "now" in Swedish, which explains the odd choice of domain)

      My point: This domain nonsens is a global problem!

      --

      "First lesson," Jon said. "Stick them with the pointy end."
    6. Re:Exactly, If foreign companys want an address by Jetson · · Score: 1
      Have you tried the get a .us domain? The whole process is horribly crippled with this fucking retarded heiarchy system. Forget about mydomain.us, you'll have to settle for mydomain.mycity.mystate.us. instead... riiiiiight. To bad too, they're loosing a lot of business because of it.

      Every country gets to write their own rules. Just because the USA has a cumbersome registration process for .us domains doesn't mean you should have preferred access to .com/net/edu adresses. I think the world would be a much better place if the non-geographical TLDs were eliminated entirely.

      The Canadian rules are simple: your company gets a domain that reflects the scope of the business. If I run a one-shop operation then I get a company.city.province.ca address. The guy who runs a chain of stores in British Columbia gets the company.bc.ca address, while companies operating in two or more provinces get the company.ca addresses.

      In short-- if you can't get a company.us address hanging directly off your country's TLD then it's probably because you don't deserve one.

    7. Re:Exactly, If foreign companys want an address by danielrose · · Score: 1

      That USED to be the way it works. No longer though. Joe Bloggs Canuck can now buy anything.ca, IIRC. Either that or he can buy joebloggscanuck.ca

      --
      i hate pansy republicans
  32. Another Step by Default.cfg · · Score: 1
    These sort of measures are expected to happen, and I find it not so surprising. Cybersquatting has become less and less a term in our collective vocabulary, and I find it hard to belevive that the majority would feel apprehensive about a law, for all intents and purposes, is already in place. Common sence would have told me to not choose a name used by corporations in other countires.

    Be that as it may, there are certain individuals who may be innocent in the matter, and find themselves in a whole heap of trouble down the road if they failed to do the research needed for a new domain name.

  33. Chilling Effects.... by Default.cfg · · Score: 1, Informative
    Unrelated, but worth mentioning:

    On February 25, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and four law school clinics announced the launch of a website and project that has been established to educate Internet users about their rights online. The Chilling Effects Clearinghouse provides detailed information about the legal rights of Internet users regarding "cease-and-desist" letters (letters sent from entities claiming violation of copyright or trademark and other grievances and threatening legal action if the violating party does not cease and desist). The project currently provides basic legal information on issues like copyright and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, trademark and domain names, anonymous speech, and defamation.

    The Chilling Effects website includes a forum for Internet users to post their cease-and-desist letters to an online clearinghouse. Students at the participating law clinics will review the letters and annotate them with links to explain applicable legal rules. The four Internet law clinics currently involved are Harvard, Stanford, the University of California at Berkeley, and the University of San Francisco, and the project is expected to grow to include additional law schools.

    Posted letters will remain online in a searchable database that interested parties can consult to find information that relates to their particular situation. "The Internet makes it easier for individuals to speak to a wide audience, but it also makes it easier for other people and corporations to silence that speech," said Wendy Seltzer, Fellow at Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet and Society, who created the project and website. "Chilling Effects aims to level the field by helping online speakers to understand their rights in the face of legal threats."

  34. What I'd like to see... by meggito · · Score: 1

    Similar tangant but...

    How about companies like namezero who let you register a doamin name for free and then after a year make you pay them. You can't take your registration needs elsewhere because now they own your domain name even though they have no claim to it other than you, and you no longer want to use their services. So, what about getting the domain that you've been using fairly back without having to use that company that you foolishly started up with?

    Sorry, I just made this mistake and namezero happens to be telling me they'll take away my domain if I don't pay even though it hasn't been anywhere near the year that I was promised. And I don't know what choice I will have other than pay them because my domain is now in their name. Aren't they basically squatting because they know there is a buyer, me, who wants the domain?

    1. Re:What I'd like to see... by arkanes · · Score: 2

      Well, thats what you get for looking for a free lunch :P If you have some sort of other trademark claim on your domain, you can probably get the rights back, but, as I understand oprations like namezero, they essentially view applications as ideas. They then register the name you suggest, and graciously let you use it for a while. Unlike with a real registrar, there's no contract or anything, and you aren't the registered owner. Bad faith buisness, surely, but not really within any bounds of legislation. Buyer beware and all that.

  35. I've never understood part of this legal issue by reemul · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I support the rights of corporations to protect their intellectual property, including rights to domain names containing trademarks. However, I don't think they should retain the right to those domains if they don't pursue them within a certain period. How did this retroactive ownership come about, when it doesn't exist anywhere else that I'm aware of in IP law? If company A produces a product called "tradenameA" but doesn't actually go forward with the process to own that trademark, in everything other than domain names they are just out of luck. If company B decides to trademark "tradenameA", company A doesn't get to sue to demand that it be given up, especially not years later. All company A gets to do is seethe.

    Why can companies with established trademarks wait for years and years without registering a domain - which they were free to do at any time until someone else grabbed it - and then successfully sue to get the domain only after a third party got the ignored name? I'd give a company six months to a year after registering the trademark to have first option on all unused domains with that trademark, but after that their inaction would leave affected domains forever out of their legal grasp. Throw in a similar grandfather period for every other company starting from a fixed date, to cover all old trademarks that haven't yet been pursued. Past that date, their rights to that name are the same as anyone else, first-come first-served.

    Especially now that large corporations can be their own registrar, there is just no possible excuse for them not pre-emptively registering any possible desired, unused domain name. For ($30/month? IIRC), any company can register every possible variant of a trademark they like, from common spelling errors to "-sucks" &etc. But if they don't take action, they give up their rights to future action. Simple as that.

    ps - anyone want to help the process along with a GPL home registrar solution? Just download, compile, pay your monthlies, and you're ready to register vanity domains for all of your friends, co-workers, pets, to your hearts content. I'm sure there are some other requirements, but I'd suspect a large number of ISPs and decent sized companies and non-profits would qualify.

    -reemul

    --
    You're just jealous 'cuz the voices talk to *me*
    1. Re:I've never understood part of this legal issue by DickBreath · · Score: 2

      I support the rights of corporations to protect their intellectual property, including rights to domain names containing trademarks. However, I don't think they should retain the right to those domains if they don't pursue them within a certain period. How did this retroactive ownership come about, when it doesn't exist anywhere else that I'm aware of in IP law?


      Trademark law properly does allow them to go after names that they have trademarked. In order to maintain a trademark you must defend it. This doesn't mean that they must be aware of every possible new technology that comes along. But they can prevent anyone from diluting the value of their trademark. When the web became well known, then they can get addresses that violate their trademark.

      Now, on the other hand, not every possible name that matches a trademark necessarily violates a trademark. Like a guy named McDonalds who creates a www.mcdonalds.com domain in good faith, and nothing on his site is easily confused with the mega corporation of the same name.

      Their right to the domains is really the right to their trademark. If they don't protect their trademark, it can fall into common usage. But I don't think there should be a seperate timeout for them to obtain domain names, or trademarks in whatever other new wizbang technology comes along.

      --

      I'll see your senator, and I'll raise you two judges.
    2. Re:I've never understood part of this legal issue by reemul · · Score: 2

      I see what you're saying, but I don't agree that domain names and trademarks are sufficiently similar that ownership of a trademark automatically entitles the owner to also have the domain, and additional domains based on it, with no effort on their part. Domains are cheap and becoming cheaper all the time. There is just no excuse to let a domain name go unclaimed for long periods and then leap on it only after someone else wants it. This should be considered the same as forgetting to file basic paperwork, you snooze you lose, no mulligans or do-overs or "I-meant-tos". I'd be amenable to a formal ruling, or even black letter law, that not pursuing a domain name does not count as failing to protect a trademark, but if the trademark owner can't be bothered to spend less than the cost of a fscking happy meal per month to own the domain outright I don't think they are entitled to any consideration.

      --
      You're just jealous 'cuz the voices talk to *me*
    3. Re:I've never understood part of this legal issue by DickBreath · · Score: 2

      But one could argue the same about other technologies not getting trademark protection. Sample arguments that I don't agree with.

      I don't agree that a trademark should automatically entitle the owner to stop me from printing whatever I want to in my own newspaper, or leaflets, etc.

      See the problem with this argument? To continue the argument....

      Printed paper is cheap and becomming cheaper all the time. There is just no excuse for Coke (tm) letting me use their trademark for a long time, and then leap on it only after someone else prints it.

      Now, I admit this is a weak analogy to your argument. But NOT registering a domain name should not cause you to loose trademark protection. Now if someone else does register it, and use it in a way that dilutes your trademark, then you SHOULD loose trademark protection if you fail to act. But the thinking that the neglect to register a domain name, esepcially when the Internet was still under the radar of most people, should not affect trademark status.

      Another question this leads to is, How many variations of my trademark should I have to register? Acme-Widgets.com Acme.com Widgets.com AcmeWidgets.com Widgets-Acme.com Acme_Widgets.com

      Surely you don't believe that just anyone should be allowed to register CocaCola.com and start using it, especially in a way that is confusing with the trademark. On the other hand, I would take the side of the domain name owner if the use had NO POSSIBLE confusion. But CocaCola.com, for example, is pretty hard to imagine. A different example, such as McDonalds.com is easier to imagine other legit. uses.

      To disagree with another of your points. As much as I hate mega corps, who often are the valuable trademark owners, I do not agree that trademark owners should be required to own a domain name. Think of the possible abuses. Okay, I start some kind of name service, or "yellow pages", or somesuch. I charge money to register. Should anyone be able to register a trademark? Should trademark owners be required to pay me to register their name at my site/service/directory, whatever? I would also point out that trademark owners are sometimes small businesses. Say a family business that employs 80 people. Sometimes their trademarks are even valuable. To put the shoe on the other foot, do you think that a trademark owner should have no recourse when someone else, esepcially a well-heeled and wealthy someone else, mis-appropriates their trademark, say, by registering and using a domain name?

      --

      I'll see your senator, and I'll raise you two judges.
  36. Two cities with the same name? by HuskyDog · · Score: 3

    The are numerous examples of cities in different countries with the same names. Particularly between the UK and USA. Two obvious examples are London and Birmingham. Who gets the birmingham.com domain? The one in England, or the one in Alabama?

    1. Re:Two cities with the same name? by danielrose · · Score: 1

      Who registered it first?

      --
      i hate pansy republicans
    2. Re:Two cities with the same name? by cpuffer_hammer · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Neither, thats what .UK and .US are for.
      I think domain names should be simplified.
      There would not be half the problems if the system was not being abused. What would be so bad about birmingham.al.us and birmingham.uk

    3. Re:Two cities with the same name? by Froobly · · Score: 1

      Neither, since government web sites are postfixed with .gov, not .com.

    4. Re:Two cities with the same name? by HuskyDog · · Score: 2
      There would not be half the problems if the system was not being abused.

      I agree!

      What would be so bad about birmingham.al.us and birmingham.uk

      Absolutely nothing, except that - as you imply - practically everyone in the USA thinks that .com means an American company and most folks elsewhere think that .com means the first organisation to choose the name.

      Recently, I heard a british priest being interviewed on the radio about something happening at his church. At the end of the interview he said "You can find at more at www.lowerdingleychurch.COM" (or some such). Since when has his little village church been an international business? What's wrong with .org.uk? Give me strength!!

    5. Re:Two cities with the same name? by HuskyDog · · Score: 1
      Neither, since government web sites are postfixed with .gov, not .com.

      I agree that in principle this should be the case, but Barcelona seem to have gone to a lot of trouble to get their hands in barcelona.com. Perhaps they just want to keep it out of private hands. We must wait and see.

    6. Re:Two cities with the same name? by AndroidCat · · Score: 2

      Sigh American government sites, perhaps. (And that's sites, not just web sites.)

      --
      One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
  37. I hope by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I hope America has freedom of speech someday.

  38. Link is dead by Default.cfg · · Score: 1

    My appologies, it was there last time I checked.

  39. URI == trademarks by mrolig · · Score: 1

    How long will it take for the XML namespace standard of using URI's as the global identifier to take hold for trademarks? What the trademark people need is a globally unique way of defining trademarks, why not copy the XML way of making globally unique id's?

    e.g.:

    http://Coca-cola.tm
    http://Coca-cola.tm/Coke

  40. .com isn't reserved to US company by aepervius · · Score: 2, Informative

    .US is reserved for the U.S:. .com is for world wide generic purpose commercial (or should be), or trade mark, or protected name (cultural name for example?). In no way it is reserved for U.S. resident or firms.

    --
    C. Sagan : A demon haunted world:
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345409469/
    visit randi.org
    1. Re:.com isn't reserved to US company by stephanruby · · Score: 1
      The only reason people want .com is because it's the most dominant domain out there. That's the main reason. If the .us domain had been the default domain and the most dominant, many foreigners would probably want to have a piece of it.

      Stephan

  41. Ok well, by FakePlasticDubya · · Score: 1

    I'm counting on Sealand to pass some copyright laws that allow me to obtain all the good names ;)

    --

    "We shall show mercy, but we shall not ask for it" -- Winston Churchill
  42. That's not a decision a US court can make by Wouter+Van+Hemel · · Score: 0

    A U.S. federal court has ruled that laws protecting trademarks in foreign countries apply under the American Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA) of 1999.

    This sure doesn't look like something a US federal court can decide by itself... Seems _way out_ of their jurisdiction. Let's see how other countries take this first, before we jump to conclusions.

  43. That's super... by gnovos · · Score: 2

    Now evey two bit retardo government that has some grief with the US can control our domain names. France, for example, could pass laws giving the domain names of Anti-nazi violaters to the state or whatever and end thier whole case against Yahoo.com quick as can be.

    --
    "Your superior intellect is no match for our puny weapons!"
    1. Re:That's super... by gutigre · · Score: 1

      France, for example, could pass laws giving the domain names of Anti-nazi violaters to the state or whatever and end thier whole case against Yahoo.com quick as can be

      Wrong. Just like in the first Yahoo/France case, the court would rule that no law (American or foreign) can override constitutional guarantees - then the freedom of speech; now due process as well as speech. (Because a domain name is a kind of financial resource.)

  44. What about a trademark that didn't exist yet? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I own a domain that I purchased 2 years ago. I didn't start using it until 3 months ago. Two months ago a trademark was filed for the phrase in my domain name. I don't want to put the URL here b/c of bandwidth concerns but it's a sports domain. Should I fear losing the domain in arbitration?

  45. One suggestion... by BarefootClown · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Perhaps Barcelona (the city) would be better served with barcelona.sp, barcelona.city.sp, or barcelona.(spanish for city).sp., or perhaps even barcelona.gov (admittedly, most .gov addresses are referring to US-centric governmental entities). .com domains are (ostensibly) for commercial entities; hence, a travel portal would, in fact, be appropriate. In this case, the intended naming structure should (IMHO) be used as a guide.

    The big problem with this approach is that most of the internet user base doesn't know about this naming structure. Most users think of .com as the only TLD, and append .com automatically; indeed, I have done so myself several times, knowing full well what I meant. Look at the popularity of www.whitehouse.com, www.nasa.com, and other such domains as evidence of this. The case for ruling in favor of the city of Barcelona is best made with an argument about the {customs, expectations, ignorance, stupidity} of the users.

    Just my two cents.

    --

    "Make it ten--I am only a poor corrupt official."
    --Captain Louis Renault (Claude Rains), Casablanca

    1. Re:One suggestion... by Spock+the+Vulcan · · Score: 1

      Except there is no .sp domain. The country code for Spain is .es (for España).

    2. Re:One suggestion... by Bartmoss · · Score: 2

      Not to nitpick, but:

      .gov is for US Government only.
      The TLD for Spain is .es

      You can read up on country TLDs here.

  46. toplevel domain by sapone · · Score: 1

    There are countries whose top-level-domain is an abbreviation of the countries name in its native language.

    The toplevel domain for Spain is .es, like españa. Not .sp.

    I guess they already have taken an appropriate domain, but do not agree with a company using the city's name for their own commercial gain...

  47. Bulgarian Law? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What was the point of singeling out Bulgaria in this post? The article did not mention it. Actually its trademark law is much less restrictive than the US one, last I checked. The poor Bulgarians are the screwed ones because they probably have to comply with US regulations on a reciprocial base.

  48. THIS IS STUPID by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    OK this is about the stupidest thing i have ever heard. I register a domain name (like quartz.com) I put my website up. And all of a sudden a bunch of stupid lawyers knock on my door and say that thier client wants my domain name so I have to give it to them. Is that right?

  49. IP Treaties by ajmarks · · Score: 0

    There's one thing that people are failing to realize: The US has copywrite, trademark, and patent treaties with other nations. These treaties require all parties to honor the other nations' trademarks, copywrites, and patents. This is often taken advantage of by US companies that do not wish to go through the lengthy process of applying for these in the US (as I recall, mvp.com tradmarked their name somewhere in Africa).

    By upholding foreign tradmarks in cybersquatting cases, all the courts are doing is honoring treaties we already have.

    --
    Opinions are not Informative, though they may be Insightful or Interesting.
  50. Does this include those absurd $100K fines? by Frank+T.+Lofaro+Jr. · · Score: 2

    Does this lawsuit set a precendent that someone could be fined $100K under the ACPA for foreign trademark violations, or does the precendent only extend to loss of one's domain name?

    If someone can get fined $100K (instant bankruptcy for most people - by the way, this HAS actually been levied in some US cases!) for violating another country's trademark - the Internet has become a very dangerous place to be. Having to worry about every jurisdiction in the world and holding yourself to the standards of the most restrictive one is untenable.

    Well I guess it's only fair US citizens get subject to foreign laws, since we seem to make people from outside the US (Sklyarov) responsible for obeying US law even while in Russia.

    Best way to kill the Internet - make all of it subject to every countries laws (including Taliban controlled Afghanistan - lets be "inclusive").

    Then everyone will be forced to go back to watching TV instead of using the "subversive" Internet.

    --
    Just because it CAN be done, doesn't mean it should!
  51. What about Amazon? by ralfp · · Score: 1

    Could Brazil sue Amazon.com from improper use of their trademark? People wanting to know about the Amazon might go to amazon.com.

    Just like the [former] owners of barcelona.com, amazon.com profits from their use of a foreign trademark, or at least they try to.

    1. Re:What about Amazon? by cyril3 · · Score: 0

      fish can't file in any US court that I know of.

  52. Three Facts by Garry+Anderson · · Score: 2

    Fact 1: Virtually every word is trademarked, be it Alpha to Omega or Aardvark to Zulu, most many times over. MOST share the same words or initials with MANY others in a different business and/or country. For example, the World Trade Organization (WTO) shares its initials with six trademarks - in the U.S. alone (please check). Conflict is IMPOSSIBLE to avoid.

    Fact 2: The authorities steal words that belong to everybody and give them to Big Business - because domain names were not designed to be trademarks. Ask Paul Mockapetris, creator of Domain Name System. He was asked, what do you wish you had invented? His reply, "A directory system for the Internet that wouldn't be controlled by the politicians, lawyers and bureaucrats."

    Fact 3: The UN World Intellectual Property Organization and the US Department of Commerce are hiding the simple solution to trademark and domain name problem. Please see at WIPO.org.uk - nothing to do with the United Nations WIPO.org.

  53. OT: your sig by Rupert · · Score: 1

    For a Java programmer, your sig:

    for i = 1 to 22:print chr$((asc(right$(left$("jkhunlqCxnvkhoov1fr1xn", i), 1))) - 3);:next

    looks extremely basic-ish. I for one would not have had the nerve to post this to the computer-language Middle East that is /.

    --

    --
    E_NOSIG
    1. Re:OT: your sig by seizer · · Score: 1

      I tried to make an obfuscated java sig in 120 chars (/.'s sig limit), but considering that a class with nothing in and a blank main method takes 61 chars, I thought I'd do another language as a joke. Guess you're not laughing huh? Ah well, back to the drawing board.

      Yes, I do have a copy of VB1 for DOS. :-) Yes, I even paid for it. (Back in the day.....)