Re[4]: IAHC Proposal (Attacks Thereon)

[Sally_Abel@fwpa.com (Sally Abel)]

Kent Crispin wrote:

>Sally Abel allegedly said:
> 
>> We have a basic disagreement as to 
>>the extent of the problem.  My 
>>experience tells me that it is much 
>>more profound 
>> than the 400 or 4000 numbers being 
>>batted around in some recent mail.
     
>Could you detail that experience and try to quantify it? 

As a trademark practitioner (trademark should be read broadly to 
include trademarks, trade names, domain name, trade dress, rights of 
publicity, general unfair competition, false advertising) I counsel 
clients on both sides of the fence (large and small; trademark owners 
and domain name holders), virtually on a daily basis on domain name 
issues.  The trademark group I chair within my firm includes 10 
lawyers, many of whom counsel clients on domain name issues on a 
regular basis.  We also regularly receive numerous unsolicited 
inquiries, typically via email, from individuals and companies with 
domain name problems. We are also, of course, aware of the caselaw in 
the area and we monitor domain name issues through the bar, lists 
like newdom, etc, and the press. If there truly are only 400 disputes 
than we certainly have had more than our share (as has Carl 
Oppedahl). 

The Subcommittee I chair within the INTA includes 12 individuals 
beside myself -- each of these individuals spends a significant 
portion of their practice (whether as inhouse or outside counsel, or 
as vendors of search services) counseling clients on domain name 
issues.  The Subcommittee has received considerable input from other  
INTA members who have domain name concerns.  As chair of the INTA 
subcommittee and as a member of the IAHC, I am contacted frequently, 
by fax, email and telephone, by people and companies around the world 
with domain name concerns.

The issue is a real one -- created by the convergence of the 
traditional commercial world and the net.

Sally
Speaking, obviously, for myself