Comic Book Company Wins Legal Battle over Man of Steel Domain Name

In a important advancement in cyber law, an arbitrator has ruled for a comic book firm in its battle to force the transfer of the manofsteel.com domain title from a registrant unconnected with the ownership of the Superman character.

The DC Comics business publishes comic books that incorporate the popular Superman series. The flying superhero Superman, of program, is also acknowledged as "The Man of Steel." DC Comics registered "THE MAN OF STEEL" as a trademark in 1987, and "MAN OF STEEL" in 1999, in search of to guard its important intellectual residence.

Moreover to the physical appearance of the Superman character in print, he has been featured in a range of key movement photographs. Coming up in December of 2012, in simple fact, the most up-to-date film will be released, entitled "Man of Steel." The film is currently being designed by DC Comics and Warner Brothers. DC Comics moreover employs its marks in connection with a assortment of other items and providers connected to the Superman character.

So when DC Comics found that there was a site at www.manofsteel.com owned and operated by Coni c/o LBR Enterprises, they determined that it was undoubtedly time to get in touch with out for aid. Not from Superman, nonetheless, but fairly from a skilled domain title attorney.

More rapidly than a speeding bullet, their lawyer initiated a proceeding with a one-man panel of the Nationwide Arbitration Forum, asserting that DC Comics was the rightful owner of the manofsteel.com domain.

Right after examining the details, the arbitrator, James A. Carmody, agreed, noting, amongst other items, that the registrant of the web site had employed it to show ads and backlinks for industrial functions, refuting any argument that could be produced of fair use or noncommercial goal, and illustrating negative faith. In brief, the protected "MAN OF STEEL" trademark was becoming basically hijacked by a usurper for the goal of escalating internet site visitors to unrelated advertisements and industrial backlinks.

The registrant did not file any solution to DC Comics claims.

The arbitrator discovered that the manofsteel.com domain title was identical to the registered MAN OF STEEL trademark, and that the registrant of the domain had no rights or genuine interest in that domain title.