While the complainants in this case have not registered Ms. Dion's name as a trademark, it is clear that her fame as a performing artist establishes the kind of reputation which can warrant protections against passing off. They, therefore, could not reflect their mark in that particular corresponding domain name. Plaintiffs in a domain dispute need to have a trademark. With the advent of the Internet, everything is potentially global and people are fighting for the same short words because they are desirable real estate. Trademarks are for things that identify goods, such as Calvin Klein Jeans.
Domain names are like addresses and phone numbers.
They may resemble trademarks but they aren't. Celebrities who have won related cases include Madonna and Julia Roberts. Losers in this battlefield include Bruce Springsteen and Sting. Copyright 2001 INT Media Group, Incorporated All Rights Reserved.