Possible Loss of Compassion
News Item (cadieux@librarybook.com)
Thu, 9 Oct 1997 22:26:27 -0400
Date: Thu, 9 Oct 1997 22:26:27 -0400
Message-Id: <3.0.32.19971009222916.007c2e70@librarybook.com>
From: News Item <cadieux@librarybook.com>
To: Multiple recipients of list <conntech>
Subject: Possible Loss of Compassion
October 9, 1997
Compassion.net has filed suit against another charity, Compassion
International, after the latter demanded that the former "cease and desist"
from using the word "compassion" as their domain and business name.
Compassion.net, devoted to matching charities with possible donors and
volunteers, has been using the domain name "compassion.com" since 1995.
Compassion International, a Christian missionary charity, maintains it has
held the trademark on the word "compassion" since 1968.
Compassion.net cofounder Jeanine Parker said she received a notice from
Compassion International in April of this year, demanding that she
discontinue further use of the word "compassion" either on her Web site or
as a business name.
Although there have been domain name battles in the past, they usually
involve "cybersquatters" who register a domain name in order to sell it for
profit. The "compassion" case is the latest high-profile suit where a
trademark holder claims that use of a domain name constitutes trademark
infringement.
"Sooner or later, one of these [domain] cases is going to court, and the
judge is going to make a decision," said Compassion.net attorney Gil
Silberman said. "Under conventional trademark law, you cannot own a common
English word."
By Stephanie Miles
Above article edited for ConnTech.
Please read full text at:
http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,15074,00.html