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Latest UDRP Stupidity: Unix.org, Canadian.biz
The Uniform Dispute Resolution Procedure, an expedited process for allowing corporations to steal domain names, continues to be abused as arbitrators stretch the definitions of "cyber-squatting" to any length in order to find for the corporate complainants. Lunenburg writes "Unix.Org, a site that was apparently used for noncommercial discussion of Unix(tm) operating systems, has been ruled a "cybersquatter" by a WIPO panel and given to the X/Open group. In spite of not actually matching any cybersquatting criteria, a WIPO panelist felt that by providing links to commercial sites, Unix.ORG was acting in "bad faith" and thus should be given over to the Open group." And WEFUNK writes "Exploiting an obvious technical error to help build their case, Molson Inc. has been awarded the seemingly generic canadian.biz domain from the original owner who "registered this name because I am Canadian and want to develop a Canadian business directory" and is now appealing to the courts." John Gilmore has a bit of commentary.
For now on, I'm only using IP addresses.
"Now tell me again that free speech guarantees should not be part of the incorporation charter of ICANN."
Blatant sarcasm mode on:
Free speech guarantees should not be part of the incorporation charter of ICANN.
BSM off.
You expect professional behaviour from ICANN?
You know what ICANN stands for don't you?
Idiots Controlling A Nationwide Network.
.
Have you read the moderator guidelines? Well, have you, PUNK? (and I want a Karma: Gnarly option)
Funny how http://www.udrpinfo.com has its own cybersquatter(s)...
http://www.udrp.info - complete with an automatic homepage-changer, and Gator!
Buy it today!
Karma: \Kar"ma\, n. [Skr.] (Buddhism) One's acts considered as fixing one's lot in the future existence.
[I] "registered this name because I am Canadian and want to develop a Canadian business directory"
It's a good thing this guy didn't capitalize the "am" in "I am Canadian". For "I Am Canadian" is a trademark owned by Molson, and this poor chap would be sued for even using that sentence as a defence!
Molson isn't even good
True. Perhaps they'd have more of a claim on the beer.shit domain. Of course they'd have to fight Anheuser-Busch for that one.
There's one thing computing teaches you, and that's that there's no point to remembering everything.
--Doug Copland
Disclaimer: Duh! this never happened, CowyboyNeil never said that, you beleived me? What a shmuck!
Little Brother, watching the watchers
I thought I'd take a look at unix.org to see what their take on the decision would be.
I was a might suprised to find it blocked by the wonderful corporate content filter.
Checking the URL checker I got the following response:
URL Checker
Thank you for your submission. Below please find a listing of the category (ies) in which your submitted URL appears. For a detailed description of each category, visit our filtering categories section.
The Site: www.unix.org
is categorized by N2H2 as:
Pornography
Should you still wish to inquire about the URL in question after checking with your System Administrator, please submit your request to N2H2's Review Editors for further analysis.
Yes, it's sad that the name of my (and ~30 million other Canadians') great country has been made synonymous with what is in essence bottled piss. Imagine if Coors Lite was called "American Beer", and "I Am American" was trumpeted as a commercial slogan in commercials for an inferior product!
Freedom: "I won't!"
Other domain names in arbitration:
music.com - RIAA says they have the rights to this, since they "own music"
switch.com - Apple claims they deserve it because of their oh-so-clever ad campaign. But Cisco says it belongs to them, because they make switches, and can afford the most lawyers.
fordreallysucks.com - Now Chevy is claiming rights to this one, as it is a fundamental part of their corporate philosophy.
bendoverandtakeit.com - Microsoft is pursuing this one, using an argument similar to Chevy's.
"I am a cipher, a cipher, wrapped in an enigma, smothered in secret sauce" -Jimmy James
I almost took this poor dude's side, until I read an absolutely preposterous remark.
Being Canadian isn't just about drinking beer...
As long as I can remember, being a Canadian has been about drinking beer. Good beer, too. Canadian beer. Besides, Canadian.biz is kind of like saying Cuba.biz. Nobody really cares.
Is that a real poncho? I mean, is that a Mexican poncho or is that a Sears poncho?
The word "Canadian" is, unquestionably, generic. "Canadian" is a word whose usage is far, far more broad than the context of beer. A Google.com search for "canadian -beer" yields almost 4 million results!
Yeah, and "stupid -bush" turns up about the same number. That doesn't mean the words don't have a deep and meaningful connection.
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I am an expert in electricity. My father held the chair of applied electricity at the state prision.
So does Molson.
A winner is you!