Fan Sites & Legal Action

[Nick Mitchell]

No: HPFGUIDX 6838

Hi

Are you all following what's happening?

Back in February, I was threatened with legal action from Warner Brothers
regarding my domain name - www.harrypotterisawizard.co.uk

I ended up agreeing to hand this over to Warner Brothers rather than taking
the case through the courts...
but it appears public pressure is now against Warner Brothers.

Another site - www.harrypotterguide.co.uk has come under fire from Warner
Brothers legal eagles... but this
time, support is gathering.
details: http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/15411.html

A recent case in the US (Fielding v Corbett) found against Corbett in that
he was trying to sell a domain to a trademark owner.
However it also ruled that the use of a trademark name could be legitimate
for a fan site.
details: http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/archive/13725.html


I would like to hear from anyone reading this who owns a domain name
containing any of the known trademarked names of Warner Brothers.

I would also like to hear from you lawyers out there - what do you make of
the Fielding v Corbett ruling... can fan sites now exist using domain names
which contain trademarks?   (note the above link is not to the ruling
itself.  If anyone finds a link to the exact ruling, please post it).

Nick.