Over the last couple of months I’ve been fighting the evil Speedo Corporation over my domain name ‘AussieSpeedoGuy.com’.
They claimed it was infringing on their copyright….
My opinion is that the word speedo is a generic term and particularly used in the context of this blog this Aussie Speedo Guy could be wearing AussieBum’s, ADIDAS, Nike, Tyr or any other of the many speedo manufacturers.
Unforunately, I didn’t win but I didn’t expect to either – they stole the domain SpeedoBoyz.com off me a few years ago.
I’m madly emailing fellow bloggers who have me on their blogroll to changed to AussieSpeedoGuy.org.
If you have me in your favourites it might pay to change it to AussieSpeedoGuy.org as well – I’m not 100% sure of when exactly they’ll steal the domain but it is imminent.
5 Comments
J
If I’m not mistaken, corporations will fight like crazy to avoid their names becoming a generic description because, unless contested, generic use will result in the copyright’s loss. The great examples in the States are Scotch tape and Zerox. As it turns out, the latter has somewhat fallen out of use as a synonym for “to make a copy of”. Your observation that the trade name has become a generic description only makes their case, and is behind this apparent overkill.
Dave Evans
J,
I agree with your point mate and I do understand where ‘Speedo’ is coming from.
I can keep registering domain names for $15 – they have to have a solicitor/lawyer to write their documents. I’m sure their legal costs are nothing to a company that size but neither is $15 for a person of my extensive ‘wealth’ – hehehe.
Dave
Kindsay
Why not try Aussiespeedozguy.com (have checked and is available).The problem is that they do own the intellectual name rights and when people say Speedo’s to me I think of the Speedo brand. They can’t stop the name Speedoz because it is used by a share trading company in the UK. I do agree though, that they are just being over protective with their name. Probably the content of the site involved has them worried too. I am on your side but they do have some legitimate points.
Good luck.
John
raulito
Ironically, by you using that name you are also providing them with a lot of free advertising, promoting the brand…I say one does not bite the hand that feeds one…and Speedos is not just biting, they want to eat your hand and you as well.
saludos
raulito
Dan
Shit.. This makes me nervous about my domain I’ve been working on… Its speedodan.com :S
I hope everything is ok mate.
Love the site, and you shouldn’t have to change a thing.
Guess, for the sake of it, I’m gonna probably change my domain now too. Something to break it up… Hmmm!