Porsche Sets Eyes on Boxter.com
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009
Car company wants Boxter.com (typo) domain name.
Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG has filed a complaint with World Intellectual Property Organization to get the domain name Boxter.com.
Boxster is one of the company’s popular cars. I remember back in the bubble days earlier this decade it seemed like most cars pulling out of tech company garages in Austin were Boxsters. A couple years later you could buy them on the cheap.
Boxter.com is currently a parked page showing links for “Porsche Car”, “Porsche Boxster for Sale Used”, and “2003 Porsche Boxster”. But the page probably isn’t converting well since the main graphic on the page is about the polar opposite of a Boxster: a Smart Car (or something similar). It looks like the secondary photo might be a Ferrari, but it’s hard to tell.
Porsche has filed a number of domain arbitration cases this year including porscheclassics.nl, porsche-design.nl, and porscheguides.com.
Further Reading:
Actually the Boxster is one of Porsche’s popular cars.
Andrew,
Correct model name is Porsche “Boxster” – do you mean they filed for boxster.com?
If thats the case no ads are showing but I’m sure they probably were at some point.
In my opinion they should win the name based on use. I’m all for generic for domain holders rights but if one owns a name that is identical to a trademark for such a well known and yet decides to continue earning revenue by showing ads that showcase that trademark – its bad faith all around. Unless of course, they purchased the name long before the trademark but highly doubtful here.
If they lose the name they can not be surprised.
I agree, the use is the basis for a loss here. The sad thing is it never had to be, the term boxter does not only and did not first refer to a porsche at all. In fact there are many cars over the years said to have ” boxter ” engines, if you saw one youd know why
That is why Porsche calls their car a boxter, after the motor design.
So quite easily the name never needed to be used in such a way, than again how would the owner have made a few dollars ( perhaps literally a day ) otherwise. :sarcasm:
Boxster is the also name of a dog. Could have easily had good use to a generic name here.
Porsche Sets Eyes on Boxter.com – http://tinyurl.com/lohyxk
Sorry for any confusion; they are going after the typo Boxter.com. I have fixed any typos in the article (to the correct spelling)
lol well that makes things even clearer.
bye bye boxter.com
It seems big companies are aiming to domaineers now a days. Ad.com ,now boxter.com … read Howard post in ricksblog.com regargading ad.com.
I will need to apply for my trademark as well.
Can we agree that domain disputes will someday cause IP lawyers to become busier than personal injury attorneys? It’s starting to look that way anyway.
Is Boxter owned by KH / Reinvent or just parked at hitfarm?
whois is private but it does have a link to domainbrokers.com
Do they already own Boxster.com?
Things are certainly heating up now on TM issues, I’ve handed over 3 domains to UDRP in the past 2 weeks which is fair to the TM holders and fine by me. However, now we’re beginning to see companies disputing generic domains. This is not a healthy environment we’re moving into and the future for generic domains is beginning to get if anything a little nervous.
It’s obvious that companies are now beginning to see the value of property ownership in domains.
If ad.com is awarded to AOL, this case will become a benchmark, and from there on ALL generic domains and the whole domain industry will be at risk. Keep your eyes wide open on this case and lets hope that the judge does the right thing – AOL go F yourself!
@ Vrytek, yes they own Boxster.com, although it doesn’t resolve.
Quote -
“I’ve handed over 3 domains to UDRP in the past 2 weeks which is fair to the TM holders and fine by me.”
I suspect most domainers would be devastated if this happened to them.
Huw, do I get the impression this happens often to you?
@Domain Investor
It must be leach from Huw month or something because up until recently I’ve had absolutely nothing, other than scammers trying it on.
The UDRP’s are all from blue chips wanting their typos and infringements dropped, fair enough.. Hands up! I had another one the other day from “ahem” a LARGE corporate Bank, what can you do? Nothing! So just give them the domain and bite your tongue, I’ve got nothing left now anyway..
They’re definitely cleaning up out there people.. Watch your backs and get rid of those TM’s “or” hold on to them if you dare, maybe you can squeeze a bit more out before they drop you a line .. lol..