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Chef triumphs over cybersquatters
One of the world’s finest chefs, Raymond Blanc, is toasting victory today in a legal battle against ‘cybersquatters’ who registered an unauthorised internet domain which traded on his name. ThamesValley law firm Morgan Cole helped M. Blanc claim back the site using a ‘fast track’ dispute resolution procedure.
The claim arose after a company based in the Bahamas registered the domain name ‘raymondblanc.com’ and used it to link to website advertisements for products that had nothing to do with Raymond Blanc.
Blanc, who established the 2-Michelin starred Le Manoir Aux Quat Saisons country house hotel and who was the presenter of ‘The Restaurant’ TV series, called in his lawyers Morgan Cole to wrest back control of the domain. Morgan Cole commenced a claim at the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in Geneva by demonstrating intellectual property rights in Raymond Blanc’s name. The dispute was resolved within ten weeks.
WIPO have now ruled in Blanc’s favour and decided that the Respondent, Caribbean Online International Limited, was using Raymond Blanc’s goodwill ‘to direct internet users to an unconnected commercial website for commercial gain’. WIPO noted Caribbean Online International had been a defendant in previous similar proceedings and had registered about 293,000 other domain names.
Stephen Schneider, from Morgan Cole, says: “Raymond is not the only celebrity to fall victim to cybersquatters. Celebrities assisted by previous WIPO decisions include actress Julia Roberts, writer Jeanette Winterson and the author of ‘JurassicPark’, Michael Crichton.”
Raymond Blanc said: “I am relieved that this issue is now resolved. I have worked hard to build my reputation over the years. These cybersquatters had nothing to do with me and no permission to use my name.”
Morgan Cole’s Dispute Management Group regularly acts for individuals and companies who need to regain control of domain names registered by cybersquatters. Stephen Schneider concludes: “Applying to WIPO or to other internet dispute organisations is often quicker and cheaper than starting Court proceedings. Taking swift action means that vital commercial interests can be safeguarded.”
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Notes to editors
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