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Lance Armstrong Foundation Wins Domains in Cybersquatting Dispute

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 1, 2005 - 4:43am.
Geneva - Champion cyclist Lance Armstrong's charitable foundation, which sells the ubiquitous yellow arm bracelets that raise money for cancer research, has won a cybersquatting case against several websites found to be using its name for commercial profit. The World Intellectual Property Organization's (WIPO) domain name arbitration center ordered the domain names livestrongbracelets.net, talk-livestrong.com and mylivestrong.com turned over to the Lance Armstrong Foundation (www.livestrong.org). The WIPO ruled that CSA Marketing and Chris Angeles registered the names in bad faith in late 2004.
tags: Dispute | Lance | Armstrong | Cybersquatting |

Microsoft Loses Patent Office Ruling in Dispute With Eolas

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 30, 2005 - 3:29am.
Washington - Microsoft came out as the loser in a recent U.S. Patent Office ruling that validated a patent held by the University of California and Eolas Technology, which is at the heart of a contested $500 million jury patent infringement verdict against Microsoft. "It is the second time that the patent office has thoroughly vetted the patent claim," UC spokesman Trey Davis told CNET News.com. "We're pleased that the ruling confirms our position all along." Eolas sued Microsoft in 1999, claiming the company's Internet Explorer browser utilizes plug-ins and other technologies covered by a Eolas patent; a jury agreed with Eolas in 2003 and awarded over $500 million in damages -- a verdict Microsoft is still appealing. The ruling from the patent office this week does not bode well for Microsoft's prospects in its appeal of the jury verdict. "This is very disappointing news, but we remain committed to seeing this case through to a successful resolution," a Microsoft representative told News.com. Some have speculated a Microsoft loss in the court case may compel the company to make changes to Internet Explorer that would affect millions of Web pages.
tags: Microsoft | Dispute | Patent Office Ruling | Eolas |

Vivendi Universal Games, Interplay Settle Dispute, Resume Distribution Pact

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 6, 2003 - 8:07am.
Irvine, Calif. -- Video game publisher Interplay Entertainment announced that it has settled a contractual dispute with Vivendi Universal Games that had caused the company to break the contract and consider legal action, and will re-commence using Vivendi as a distributor for its game titles. Interplay announced in September that it would terminate the agreement, in particular for Vivendi's "refusing to pay Interplay certain monies due following our latest release, 'Lionheart.'" The companies on Thursday said they resolved all disputes and will honor the August 2002 contract, whereby Vivendi will distribute all Interplay titles in North America and Asia-Pacific through August 2005. "We are pleased to have come to an understanding with Interplay and look forward to the upcoming launch of 'Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel,'" said Philip W. O'Neil, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Vivendi Universal Games.
tags: Games | Vivendi Universal | Dispute | Resume |