Re: [ICANN-EU] Trademark Lobby on AMM's Regierungserklärung

[Robin Miller <robin@minervan.com>]

Thomas Roessler wrote:
(Other cases, such as the
> use of trademarks in "speech-like" domain names, or clashes between
> trademarks and personal names where - traditionally - personal names
> have priority, can easily be found.)

My fiance, Wolf-Dieter Roth is an example. He and Westdeutsche Rundfunk
coexisted with the same initials, the initials he has used since 1977 to sign
articles he has written, at magazines where he worked. Nothing unusual about
that in print journalism. Nobody cared until he used his initials on the net. 

They sued us right in the middle of moving. I, unknowingly, sorted their cease
and desist letter into the enormous pile of press releases that had to be boxed
up. It was not sent registered mail, which would have at least told me the
letter was important and not a press release. It was sent to the old address,
even though our website said we were moving and listed the new address. Nothing
about the letter's envelope gave a clue what it was about, other than it had
WDR on the envelope. 

I happened upon it when it was only 3 days before their 'deadline', and
approximately 2 days before moving day. And I couldn't read the letter all that
well, (I am American) and my fiance was out of town at his new job. I could see
there was a form attached that appeared to want a large amount of money. I
faxed the letter and the form to our lawyer. Needless to say, I am not good
enough in German to deal with such a letter, and my fiance had his new job to
worry about.

Oh well, the money I wanted to get married and start a family with now gets to
fatten the purses at WDR, the court and the lawyers. (do I sound angry? I am.
Very angry. Still angry.)

story (in German) http://www.dl2mcd.de/domain.html

Needless to say, I find very little sympathy for the trademark lobby in
Germany. 


all the best, Robin