On Tue, 30 Jul 2002, Caitlin Bestler wrote: > Additionally, I think it is also important to recognize that > domain names are now an integral part of trademarks and have > meaning far beyond translating a name to an IP address. This is not an accurate statement of the law in the US or any other country I know of. > > Suppose the IETF were to somehow get the crazy idea to > radically change the entire domain registration system, and > as a result Disney no longer owned "disney.com"? > > Does anyone really think the courts would back the IETF? > The IETF wouldn't be involved. The user of the other "disney.com" would be. And if it were - their union - people who think Disney is evil and have a non-commercial site saying so - someone named Disney - lots of other possibilities it would be legal, too. -- Please visit http://www.icannwatch.org A. Michael Froomkin | Professor of Law | froomkin@law.tm U. Miami School of Law, P.O. Box 248087, Coral Gables, FL 33124 USA +1 (305) 284-4285 | +1 (305) 284-6506 (fax) | http://www.law.tm -->It's hot here.<--