Fight of the giants: Playboy hits AOL with internet suit
David Teather in New York
Friday January 16, 2004
The Guardian
Playboy Enterprises, the adult entertainment group, was given the go-ahead yesterday to sue internet service provider AOL for copyright infringement, a decision that could have broad implications for the still fluid rules governing trademarks online.
The ruling by a panel of appeals court judges reopens a case first filed in Los Angeles in 1999. The case is related to the use of the words "playboy" and "playmate" as signposts in the Netscape online search engine.
The words were included in a list of about 400 such as "sex" or certain body parts that would identify users interested in buying adult-themed merchandise. People typing those words into the search engine would automatically be sent banner advertising for various adult-themed sites that were not associated with Playboy Enterprises.
Playboy argued in its suit that the links tarnished and diluted its brand name by associating its trademark with inferior products. Barry Felder, a lawyer for Playboy, said the firm was seeking damages "well into seven figures."
.....
http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/new...124152,00.html
Friday January 16, 2004
The Guardian
Playboy Enterprises, the adult entertainment group, was given the go-ahead yesterday to sue internet service provider AOL for copyright infringement, a decision that could have broad implications for the still fluid rules governing trademarks online.
The ruling by a panel of appeals court judges reopens a case first filed in Los Angeles in 1999. The case is related to the use of the words "playboy" and "playmate" as signposts in the Netscape online search engine.
The words were included in a list of about 400 such as "sex" or certain body parts that would identify users interested in buying adult-themed merchandise. People typing those words into the search engine would automatically be sent banner advertising for various adult-themed sites that were not associated with Playboy Enterprises.
Playboy argued in its suit that the links tarnished and diluted its brand name by associating its trademark with inferior products. Barry Felder, a lawyer for Playboy, said the firm was seeking damages "well into seven figures."
.....
http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/new...124152,00.html
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