The Mac Observer

You'll get your Mac news here from now on.

Skip navigational links

Cohen Loses iTunes URL Battle

by , 11:10 AM EST, November 23rd, 2005

Ben Cohen has given up his battle to keep the itunes.co.uk domain name, according to ZDNet. Cohen purchased the domain name in 2000, then lost it to Apple in March 2005.

Cohen claimed that he registered the domain name, unaware that Apple was trademarking "iTunes." Apple offered him US$5,000 for the name, and Cohen countered with a price of $50,000. His company, CyberBritain, also pointed the domain name to Napster's Web site.

Nominet, the UK's domain name registry, reassigned the domain name in March after Apple cited that it holds the iTunes trademark. Claire Milne, a Nominet adjudicator, awarded Apple the domain name, stating that CyberBritain's act was an "abusive registration," meaning that the company was trying to take unfair advantage of Apple's rights.

Mr. Cohen then filed a case in British court, bypassing the UK's standard domain name dispute process as managed through Nominet. The court threw out the case because he failed to follow the proper appeal procedure, which CyberBritain eventually appealed.

Mr. Cohen and CyberBritain have now withdrawn the appeal, and will no longer attempt to regain the iTunes.co.uk domain name.

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
Close Name:stuartea Posts: 44 Joined: 08 Aug 2005
Subject: : )

Good thing to

View Name:Guest
Subject: Loser!
Close Name:geoduck Posts: 636 Joined: 30 Dec 2003
Subject:

Every once in a while the good guys win.

Close Name:matwyn Posts: 1 Joined: 23 Nov 2005
Subject:

Quote
geoduck wrote:
Every once in a while the good guys win.


Except in this case of course! I think you'll find that Mr Cohen registered this domain some 13 months before the first version of iTunes was launched, let alone the iTMS. This case has been badly reported in the States, which as usual, only reports one side of an argument.

Yes Apple had released the iMac (1999) and Steve was it's iCEO (in this case i stood for interim) but other than that I don't think that they used the 'i' moniker for anything else. www.itunes.co.uk initially was set-up as a links site for all things to do with computer based music - mp3 software downloads, where to get mp3's from, reviews etc. Only when Apple got shirty and threatened legal action - in 2003, just before iTMS was being mooted - did this all blow up. It was during the dispute that it was pointed to Napster's site I guess out of spite.

Yes, I think Mr Cohen was daft trying to get more cash out of Apple but I also think that Apple played the villain in this affair - they could have made a better offer initially and come to a more amicable solution. As it is, they've appeared heavy handed and dare I say it, very Redmond like!

Close Name:jacrav Posts: 257 Joined: 04 Jul 2001
Subject: Cyberbritain …

The name of his company, considering the type of business the man is engaged in, is a disgrace to his country …

View Name:Guest
Subject:
View Name:Guest
Subject: disappointing
View Name:Guest
Subject:
Comment on this Article


You cannot edit your comments.   You cannot delete your comments.
Log in | Register
Username:   Password:   Log me on automatically each visit   

You are not logged in, and this post will appear as "Guest." Log in with your username and password from the TMO forums. If you do not have a username, you can register here.
Please note that guests are limited to including a maximum of two URLs per post.


Post A Comment
  Subject


  Your Comments



Recent Headlines - Updated Thursday, November 24th, 2005

Thu., 6:55 AM
Happy Thanksgiving!
Wed., 4:10 PM
The Slacker's Guide - Improving on a Classic: Forgotten Hope
12:00 PM
Mac Gaming News - Aspyr Sets System Requirements For Civilization III: Complete
11:10 AM
Cohen Loses iTunes URL Battle
10:00 AM
SuperDuper! 2.0 Available
9:45 AM
iPodObserver - Samsung/Apple Memory Deal Under Investigation
9:05 AM
iPodObserver - Navio Plans to Crack Apple's FairPlay
8:10 AM
MaxConnect Adds 7 Hard Drives to G5 Power Mac
12:00 AM
BBEdit 8.2.4 Offers Interface Tweaks, More
 
 

The Mac Observer Reader Specials

  • Ramjet Ramjet Memory: New! PowerMac G5 DDR2 - 1Gig for $135, 2Gigs for $235! PowerBook G4 DDR2 - 512mb for $69, 1Gig for $129! Visit our site for more...
  • Download Typestyler, still the Ultimate Styling Tool for Internet, Print and Video Graphics. Works great in Classic with a Native OS X Version on the way. Free Tryout: www.typestyler.com
  • Memory To Go Special: PowerBook G4 / iBook G4: 1GB $136, 512mb $54 | P.M. MAC G5:2GB kit $216 1GB kit $108 | Mac Mini / Imac G5: 1GB $108 512mb $48 | G4 PC133: 512mb $77 256mb $34 | Flat Imac / Titanium: 512mb $96 256mb $39 | Hard Drives AVAILABLE
  • Other World Computing: Enjoy your iPod tunes in your Car with the RoadTrip! FM Transmitter or RoadTrip!+ FM Transmitter+Charger. From just $14.99 - these FM transmitters actually work great and sound great - iPodLounge Recommended!
  • New G5 iMac DDR2 1GB $99.00 / 2GB KIT $199.00 / New P.B. DDR2 SO DIMM 1GB $109 / 512MB $59.00 / G5 DDR400 2/4GB KIT $209 / 418 MacMini 1GB $99.00 / iMac G5 $99.00 P.B/iBook Cooling Fan $29.00 / Hitachi 80 GB 7200RPM 8MB Cache $175.00 / Firewire F400 120GB 7200RPM 8MB Cache $119.00 - Click to Maximize your Macs...
  • MacPoker101 - Play poker on your Mac. The definitive guide to Mac poker. Your gateway to the best Mac-friendly poker rooms. Click 2 join the action!
  • Mac Online Poker - When I want to play online poker for Mac, I choose the best Mac Poker site, with internet mac poker reviews, poker bonus codes, and my favorite Mac Poker game: Texas Holdem.