Altria Gets a Hit with Marijuana Domain Name Dispute
Sunday, March 21st, 2010
Tobacco company scores a hit with marijuana domains.
In December I wrote about how Altria, the parent company of Philip Morris, had filed a complaint to get the domain names AltriaCannabis.com and AltriaMarijuana.com. The company won the case at World Intellectual Property Forum against Daniel Cheng of Washington, D.C., and the domain names should be transferred to Altria’s possession shortly.
As I noted in the earlier article, the domain names each had web sites speaking out against the legalization of marijuana. But it turns out those sites weren’t posted until after Altria initially contacted the owner asking him to refrain from using the Altria marks. That might explain the hasty nature of the web sites, which each had links to both pro and anti marijuana legalization sites.
Now for the big question: what will Altria do with these domain names now that it owns them?
“”Now for the big question: what will Altria do with these domain names now that it owns them?”"
With the unevitable to happen soon, the legalization of Medical Marijuana and more, I wouldn’t doubt it that all the big tobacco companies are just sitting and planning on the sidelines getting ready to jump into that ‘goldmine to be’ of a market.
@Kevin M.
Two major differences between tobacco and marijuana;
1) marijuana isn’t addictive
2) you can grow more then enough for personal use on your patio.
The names will simply not resolve.
i suspect conspiracy people will believe big tobacco would be very interested in marijuana. i doubt the consumer is interested in tobacco company involvement.
“1) marijuana isn’t addictive
2) you can grow more then enough for personal use on your patio”
The same is true of tomatoes, but people tend to opt for the convenience of purchasing.
Consider pasta. There are few things more ridiculously simple than making your own fresh pasta. Making pasta is easier than going to to the store and buying it, but dried prepared pasta continues to fly off the shelves.
Don’t under estimate the private motive of Tobacco companies, and the need for a cheaper high.
Tobacco is hurting and needing a new product.
Price sensitive people will want a $20 eighth.
Believe me before Im dead Marijuana will be legal and Big Tabacco will be leading the market. It just fits their business plan.