Skype Goes After Skype-Watch.com
In these turbulent times, every company is out to protect their ostensibly good name. This practice extends onto the internet in the form of defensive registration, trademarks searches and, in the extreme, lawsuits. Any domainer is aware of this practice on the part of companies large and small. But what should a company do when the violating site and its author are backing your product and your name? Should pro-company sites be allowed to stand unaltered while those defaming a company are taken down? Somewhere in an ivory tower in picturesque Luxembourg, Skype is pondering that very question.
Jan Geirnaert, an IT consultant, is the author of Skype blogs Skype-Watch (Skype-Watch.com) and Skype-Gadgets (Skype-Gadgets.com). That is, he was the author of the two Skype blogs. Jan was also passionately pro-Skype. He aided marketing efforts for dozens of Skype–affiliated companies, briefed executives on the potential impact of Skype on their businesses, covered Skype-related news at international conferences and contributed to Skype Journal.
Then, Jan received a letter from Seema Sharma, an IP lawyer for Skype. Ms. Sharma was forwarded an email from Jan regarding his use of the Skype name in his decidedly pro-Skype blogging. She did what many IP lawyers would do. She pulled up her standard “cease and desist” letter, pasted his name and websites into it, and mailed it off.
This is not an entirely unexpected action on the part of any company’s legal staff. However, Jan took this to be a personal affront to his work in the trenches for the company, as his post here would indicate. So, Jan immediately took the letter to heart. He pulled all content from his blogs and posted the letter’s boilerplate legalese instead.
The news of Jan’s actions has made its way through the relatively small Skype-blogging community. Reactions vary from righteous indignation to the more understated “I think he over-reacted.” At Robert Scoble’s Scobleizer, the tone begins decidedly offended but later softens to a stance that, while Skype could have handled the situation better from a Public Relations standpoint, Jan’s immediate shutdown was probably also over the top. The comments, in general, echo this sentiment with some suggesting that a licensing arrangement could have been arranged for a trivial fee.
So, what do you think? Not only in this Skype case, but on the whole? If a domain owner is passionately working to promote a company’s name and product but is violating its trademark policy in the most literal sense, how should a company approach that person? Is there a possible win-win arrangement? If a blog is “under the wing” of a company, could you trust their opinion and should they divulge their arrangement?
It is not surprising when these lawyers bite the hand that feed it. Bloggers create the awareness that enable skype to succeed. He should post under the brand name SKYPE_SUCKS and I guess that would be protected speech. I real wonder where these companies' collective heads are at. Don't answer that! I remember reading that "lawyers want to trademark the very name that you are trying to get to be first in the mind of the consumer". The point was that you want your name to BE the generic for the category. While I use skype, if they act like an ass, I'll look for alternatives. And, I'll blog about it. Betcha I can change a few minds in their potential marketplace. Don't get mad; get even.
I can understand why they would want to take sites down that are Phishing or something similiar, but why shut down sites that are helping you grow the company. Surely a disclaimer on each page saying skype-blogs is not owned or operated by skype / ebay affiliates or something should suffice….
interesting comment, i archived it on my blog.
[...] Skype Goes After Skype-Watch.com Skype enrages bloggers and domainers by going after one of its most ardent supporters. [...]
And now skype-watch.com is a sedo parking page.
I put it behind a lock. Skype is toy, which is why it's great to have it on a ps3. Goodbye…
Governments need to level the playing field for the little guy – Doesn't matter what the law is any threat from a larger company is automatically bullying because they have the resources to destroy you with a whisper all the while you are screaming your defense. Welcome to Might makes right capitalism without morals.
Thank you for sharing to us.
Please one more post about that..
http://www.bellspharmacy.com
http://pharmacyontips.com | http://www.onlinemedicalstore.net
Excellently written article, if only all blogger offered the same level of content as you, the internet would be a much better place. Please keep it up
Hi there,
Really nice job,There are many people searching about that now they will find enough sources by your tips.
Also looking forward for more tips about that
A book, Why Africa? newly published is the best guide to inform the public on different sports where Africans excelled in the past.
I was awaiting for such an article and I have gained some useful information from this site Thanks for sharing this information
http://www.zithromaxgeneric.net
Do not miss the fine Swiss watch …. they are adhering to the traditional essence of integration into the fashion, technology and other elements.
http://www.buyswissreplicawatches.com/replica-swiss-cartier-watches_c53.html Cartier
http://www.buyswissreplicawatches.com/replica-swiss-chanel-watches_c60.htm Replica Chanel Watches
It's good to see this information in your post, i was looking the same but there was not any proper resource, thanx now i have the link which i was looking for my research..
Thanks for sharing such a nice post.
Thanks very much for sharing it. Keep posting such interesting information.This information is very interesting, I really enjoyed, I would like get more information about this,Blogger,My Site created for generic men’s health medication at reasonably low price and health care products on various ailments like allergy, quite smoking etc, get the best Online Shopping at http://www.mynetpharma.com today.
Thanks very much for sharing it. Keep posting such interesting information.This information is very interesting, I really enjoyed, I would like get more information about this,Blogger,My Site created for generic men’s health medication at reasonably low price and health care products on various ailments like allergy, quite smoking etc, get the best Online Shopping at http://www.mynetpharma.com today.
Viagra Generic
good
Its my great pleasure to visit your blog and to enjoy your great posts here. I like it a lot. I can feel that you paid much attention for those articles, as all of them make sense and are very useful
IT Recruitment Agencies London
daycare playground
I can hardly believe that there are a number of issues on these sites. Well, when I came across this post, the only thing that I can think of is that Skype helps me get in touch with people, and especially with my family and friends outside the country.
buy phentermine 37.5
In a world where we become far from our family and friends most of the time because of either school or work, we need Skype to connect us together and help us get in touch with each other.
phentermine 37.5
Absolutely ridiculous carry on. Who in gods name tries to take down sites that promote their product. heads are definitely up their asses…idiots.
Maria Sherperr
Dublin University
The First Years Wave Stroller
I wish I'd discovered this site before I started my business. I would have avoided a lot of mistakes.
cosmetic surgery chicago
this is just a text comment created for testing purposes only by wickedboi and sons. THIS IS ME for development purposes.
THIS IS ME aGAIN xlpharmacy this is just a text comment created for testing purposes only by wickedboi and sons. THIS IS ME for development purposes. Nothing to worry about.
jeremy scott Shoes Besides his awesome colored hair (with a heart design in it), multiple piercings, and neck tattoo, he’s wearing an outfit that features a colorful oversized top and oversized shorts, along with Jeremy Scott x Adidas panda bear sneakers. His panel sunglasses look like the famous Mykita “Gordon” model. The bag-with-a-scary-face looks like a design by Zaorick Mochasse, though we didn’t have time to ask him all of his brand info so we can’t be 100% sure.adidas jeremy scott?
We have lots of new style puma shoes on sale in this online store, like the puma ferrari, puma future cat are the most popular. hurry up to buy one ,it is high quality,and we supply you best service.you will become a puma sports leader.
Surely a disclaimer on each page saying skype-blogs is not owned or operated by skype / ebay affiliates or something should suffice
THIS IS ME for development purposes. Nothing to worry about.
I can think of is that Skype helps me get in touch with people, and especially with my family and friends outside the country.
It is not surprising when these lawyers bite the hand that feed it. Bloggers create the awareness that enable skype to succeed.
It is really a great and useful piece of info. I am glad that you shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.