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Using Your Own Name May Be Infringement, Part 2

Posted by timothy on from the this-had-better-be-a-dream dept.

phillymjs writes "We're probably all familiar with Uzi Nissan and his fight to keep his nissan.com domain name from the clutches of Nissan Motors. Well, more same-name idiocy came to light today-- the Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting that their staff music writer, Bill Wyman, has received a cease-and-desist letter from lawyers representing former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman, for "a seriously misleading and, arguably, an intentional, unauthorized exploitation of our client's name, goodwill and publicity value." It should be interesting to see how this one plays out, because Bill Wyman the musician was born William George Perks and changed his name to Bill Wyman in 1964. Journalist Bill Wyman was given that name at his birth in 1961."

6 of 665 comments (clear)

  1. No one is infringing on my name by fataugie · · Score: 0, Redundant

    No one wants my name for a domain except for Bob Guchioni (sp?).

    My father was spanish, my mother was chinese.

    Later,

    Juan Hung Lo

    --

    WTF? Over?

    1. Re:No one is infringing on my name by fataugie · · Score: 0, Redundant

      And maybe you know my brother....he was in the movies (Long Duc Dong).

      --

      WTF? Over?

  2. yet another reason why drugs are bad by Tenchi-kun · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Ok, for some reason, this just doesn't sit right with me. Just because Bill Wyman(the musician) WAS part of the Rolling Stones, does he think that he can be the only one using that name? I think that guy spent too much time around Keith Richards and all the drugs that he's used over the years. I could understand it if the writer had changed his name to Bill Wyman, but it was the other f-ing way around, and 3 years after the writer was born! If nothing else, Bill Wyman(the writer) could sue Bill Wyman(the musician) for using HIS name.

    I don't know many people that will go around suing someone because they have the same name. All of the John Smiths in the world are gonna be f-ing screwed if this starts happening more. I can see it now..

    John Smith #1: You've stolen my name! Speak to my lawyer!

    John Smith #2: No, you've got my name! speak to my lawyer!

  3. Re:What does he do? by nob · · Score: 1, Redundant

    Check out nissan.com. He runs "Nissan Computer Corp."

    --
    daed si luap
  4. New TLDs by MS · · Score: 1, Redundant

    Thats what the new TLDs were meant for:

    Nissan Motors should register nissan.biz, nissanmorots.com or nissan.co.jp (they are Japanese after all).

    Wyman (the Rolling Stone member) should register wyman.info, wyman.name or billwyman.com...

    Nobody needs seriously more than *one* domain-name. Registering serveral variations of the same name under several TLDs helps only fill the pockets of Verisign and some lawyers.

    Markus

  5. Re:Countersue! by cweber · · Score: 1, Redundant

    em>Ah well, too bad I don't read Rolling Stone, I can't cancel my subscription in protest. ;-)

    It's the band 'The Rolling Stones', not the magazine. You can cancel your subscription all you want, Bill Wyman, the musician wouldn't care.