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A domain name can be put into question like what happened in Wheelers case. If the company can prove they were an Established Legal Business/Organization Prior to the person/company purchasing the domain name.
For example www.VW.com used to be owned by a guy selling aftermarket vehicle accessories for a Volkswagen bugs.
Volkswagen sued that he was infringing on their established brand. VW won the case.
In the case of Wheeler he may have stolen (inadvertently) another established companies identity unknowingly. If they were established prior to his purchasing the domain name and were in a similar business prior. They have the rights to the domain name. Now if they sold shoes and not sign products. The case would have been tossed. Since, wheeler wouldn't have been infringing on their rights.
I wouldn't have given up without getting a decision from the courts though myself.
The exception to this rule is family names. For example my father used to own EdwardWJones.com and was sued by Edward W Jones investments. The courts found that since it was his name legal name he didn't infringe on their rights. He chose to give it up willing for consideration in the matter.
Just because, you believe its a law doesn't make it a law. Hope, this helps many of you better understand the law behind domain names.
For example www.VW.com used to be owned by a guy selling aftermarket vehicle accessories for a Volkswagen bugs.
Volkswagen sued that he was infringing on their established brand. VW won the case.
In the case of Wheeler he may have stolen (inadvertently) another established companies identity unknowingly. If they were established prior to his purchasing the domain name and were in a similar business prior. They have the rights to the domain name. Now if they sold shoes and not sign products. The case would have been tossed. Since, wheeler wouldn't have been infringing on their rights.
I wouldn't have given up without getting a decision from the courts though myself.
The exception to this rule is family names. For example my father used to own EdwardWJones.com and was sued by Edward W Jones investments. The courts found that since it was his name legal name he didn't infringe on their rights. He chose to give it up willing for consideration in the matter.
Just because, you believe its a law doesn't make it a law. Hope, this helps many of you better understand the law behind domain names.