The arena Football team the Orlando Predators was recently sold and the one thing that seem to have gotten lost in the sale is its domain name.
According to a story in the orlandosentinel.com, the domain which served as the previous official site of the team OrlandoPredators.com now redirects visitors to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s archive of sexual offenders and predators.
It seems the domain name was not in the name of the team or the league but in the name of the previous managing partner of the team David Pearsall.
The team just found out about the issue the day before the new owner of the team named a new President Jared Saft.
“Our initial reaction was to reach out to the league,” Saft said. “We’re really disappointed. He’s potentially harming fans and children who are trying to get information on the team.
“When you register a domain, you represent that you’re not infringing on a trademark. Well, he’s infringing on a trademark.”
The league agrees. “It’s unfortunate that previous ownership did not handle this differently, but the appropriate legal action has been commenced and we are confident that the Predators’ brand will remain as strong as ever,” AFL Commissioner Jerry B. Kurz said in a statement to the Orlando Sentinel.
Saft said a complaint has been filed with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, a nonprofit organization responsible for regulating domain names, among other things.
“We think that domain belongs with the team; It’s pretty clear,” Saft said. “The current owner will face the justice of misinforming the public.”
While the team works to regain control of its former domain, it launched a new website called MyOrlandoPredators.com.
“A fully-functional website, on whatever domain name the team ends up with, should be up and running within the next 30 to 45 days.”
John Berryhill says
“When you register a domain, you represent that you’re not infringing on a trademark. Well, he’s infringing on a trademark.”
Bullshit.
KDomainNames says
Might I cough up that pile of rubbish as well. +1
Michael Berkens says
UIPDATE
The Football team filed an just and won a UDRP on the domain
http://www.udrpsearch.com/naf/1575126