CAMPBELL, Calif. — FriendFinder Networks Inc. on Monday said it recently received a favorable ruling in Lithuania that handed over the domain AdultFriendFinder.lt to the adult dating company because it was registered and used in bad faith.
In the cybersquatting case, Lithuanian Judge William Mikuckien? ruled that Russian online company JSC DKD, also known as DKD Dating, caused confusion among online users when it acquired the domain, which incorporates the “AdultFriendFinder” name paired with the Lithuanian country-code extension.
Mikuckien? further said that the use violated the rules of fair competition and the registered trademark rights of Various Inc., the wholly-owned FriendFinder subsidiary that operates AdultFriendFinder.com.
The court, in addition to requiring JSC DKD to terminate its registration of domain name AdultFriendFinder.lt and to cease all use of the AdultFriendFinder trademark, ordered that JSC DKD pay the legal fees and court costs.
The dispute began in May after the registered owner refused to transfer the domain to AFF after receiving a cease and desist letter, FriendFinder CEO Jonathan Buckheit said.
“Enforcing our valuable trademark and intellectual property rights around the world is important in maintaining brand solidarity as well as keeping the customers who are trying to access our sites safe from cyber squatters and other Internet outlaws,” Buckheit said. “We are very happy with this result and will continue to aggressively pursue cybersquatters and other infringers as part of our global brand protection platform.”
Attorney David Sigalow of Pennsylvania-based Allen, Dyer, Doppelt, Milbrath & Gilchrest handled the case on behalf of FriendFinder.