Website Owner Not Worried Over Infringement

SARASOTA, Fla. - A new adult search engine launched Monday spoofs the Yahoo.com name.

The owner of YaSexHoo.com, who goes by the name Dill Dough, told XBiz that he’s not worried about trademark infringement. He cited a similar twist on the popular Google.com search engine with Booble.com, which launched in January.

“Google tried a number of avenues to pursue trademark infringement to great expense and with no success, so I'm really not worried about that,” Dough said, “The past has already proven there is no legal infringement.”

Google's legal team filed a cease and desist order nearly a week after the launch of website Booble. That legal action is pending, company officials said.

Yahoo officials did not immediately comment on the YaSexHoo matter to XBiz.

Booble, owned by an unnamed New York businessman going by the name of Sir Rodney, claims its name is protected by the First Amendment and not trademark infringement.

“We dispute your assertion that your website is a parody,” Google said in an email to Booble management. “For a work to constitute a parody, it must use some elements of a prior author's composition to create a new one that, at least in part, comments on the original author's works. Your website does not comment on the Google website at all; it merely uses the Google look and feel and a similar name for a search engine.”

Defendants in trademark infringement claims typically can assert one of two types of defenses -- fair use or parody.

Fair use occurs when a company uses a descriptive phrase used with a product.

Parody, on the other hand, can be permissible if it is not too directly tied to commercial use. The basic idea is that artistic and editorial parodies of trademarks serve a valuable critical function, and that its critical function is entitled to some degree of First Amendment protection.

Dough said he’s not worried about any legal efforts to knock his Sarasota, Fla.-based online company he claims has been around since 1994. The company has launched various sites, but Dough wouldn’t reveal which ones.

“We see this like a parent who names her sons Gary and Cary,” Dough said. “It’s just a play on names.”

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

25,000 Sign Petition to Legalize Pornography in Ukraine

An OnlyFans model’s petition to decriminalize pornography in Ukraine has amassed the 25,000 signatures required for official consideration by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

WannaCollab Joins Pineapple Support as Supporter-Level Sponsor

WannaCollab has joined the ranks of over 70 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

FSC Unpacks SCOTUS Age Verification Ruling in Webinar

The Free Speech Coalition conducted a public webinar Tuesday to help adult industry stakeholders understand the Supreme Court’s recent decision in FSC v. Paxton, and its potential implications.

UK Lawmaker Calls for Appointment of 'Porn Minister'

Baroness Gabrielle Bertin, the Conservative member of Parliament who recently convened a new anti-pornography task force, is calling for the appointment of a “minister for porn,” according to British news outlet The Guardian.

FSC Toasts Jeffrey Douglas for 30 Years of Service

n the very same evening when the adult industry was hit hard by the Supreme Court ruling supporting Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181, members of the Free Speech Coalition board, staff and supporters gathered to celebrate Jeffrey Douglas’ 30 years as board chair — a fitting reflection of his reputation as an eternal optimist.

TTS Opens UK Testing Location

Talent Testing Service (TTS) has opened a new U.K. location in Ware, Hertfordshire.

FSC: Age-Verification Laws Go Into Effect in South Dakota, Georgia, Wyoming on July 1

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published a statement regarding new age verification laws set to go into effect tomorrow in South Dakota, Georgia, and Wyoming.

FSC Responds to Supreme Court Decision on Texas AV Law

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has released a statement responding to last week's Supreme Court decision on FSC v. Paxton, the Texas age verification law.

Sex Work CEO Debuts Upgraded 'GPTease' AI Assistant

Sex Work CEO has introduced the new Canvas in-chat editing feature to its AI-powered, NSFW text generator, GPTease.

UPDATED: Supreme Court Rules Against Adult Industry in Pivotal Texas AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday issued its decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, striking a blow against the online adult industry by ruling in support of Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

Show More