{"id":16708,"date":"2013-02-12T09:00:51","date_gmt":"2013-02-12T15:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/techcitement.com\/?p=16708"},"modified":"2013-02-12T11:47:48","modified_gmt":"2013-02-12T17:47:48","slug":"ron-paul-claims-there-is-no-freedom-to-keep-his-domain-name","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/techcitement.com\/culture\/politics\/ron-paul-claims-there-is-no-freedom-to-keep-his-domain-name\/","title":{"rendered":"Ron Paul Claims There Is No Freedom To Keep His Domain Name"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Rom<\/a><\/p>\n

In a move that’s difficult not to view as ironic, recently retired Congressman Ron Paul filed an international complaint with the WIPO on Friday, demanding the organization (an agency of the United Nations) turn over both the RonPaul.com<\/a> and RonPaul.org<\/a> domains from the current owners. Those current owners being Paul’s own supporters who have run the websites since 2007. As an outspoken proponent of smaller government and individual freedom (not to mention the poster child of the success possible with grassroots activism by volunteers), this move by Ron Paul is bound to make even his biggest fans do a double-take.<\/p>\n

According to statements made by the current owner<\/a> of the disputed domains, Ron Paul made a recent comment during an Alex Jones Show interview expressing regret over not owning RonPaul.com. That led to a number of listeners urging the domain owner to work out a deal. Apparently, that’s where things began to fall apart. The current domain owner accuses Ron Paul of ignoring his “respectful” offer of purchasing the domain (and associated mailing list of users) for a sum of $250,000 and resorting to filing the WIPO complaint instead.<\/p>\n

The official complaint filed by Ron Paul tells a slightly different story. First, it establishes Ron Paul as owner of the “RON PAUL” U.S. trademark, by virtue of its use with the sale of seven books he has authored (three of which made the New York Times<\/em> best seller list). Paul’s complaint proceeds to argue the current domain name holders haven’t used the domains in connection with any bona fide offering of goods or services, yet made excessively priced demands on its resale. In contradiction with the details posted on RonPaul.com by its owner, Ron Paul’s complaint notes one of his representatives, Chris Younce, inquired about purchasing the domain. Younce received a reply from a George R. stating, “Yes, it’s currently for sale at $848,000. This is for the domain name only and does not include the website or other content.”<\/p>\n

Only later was a second letter received offering the $250,000 price for the domain and mailing list, plus a “free gift” of the RonPaul.org domain thrown in. Ron Paul argues he had the domains appraised at an approximate value of $50,000 — far less than the “exorbitant” asking price.<\/p>\n

To prevail in such a dispute, a trademark owner has to show three things:<\/p>\n