Company got trademark for “PLA”, sues to get domain name.
If you have a short list of “nice guys” in the domain name industry, Nat Cohen of Telepathy certainly shows up near the top.
A company called Project Leadership Associates Inc. is now trying to sue Telepathy to get the domain name PLA.com. Those are the company’s initials, and it says it has a registered trademark.
PLA tried to negotiate with Cohen to buy the domain, and according to PLA’s court filing it looks like they made some progress. But then PLA decided to sue.
PLA’s claims are a joke. Among them, it suggests that Cohen should have told them that he had “just recently” purchased the domain name (a few years ago):
On information and belief Nate (sic) Cohen either by intention or by omission failed to inform [PLA representative] that Telepathy had just recently purchased the domain name PLA.com from another party in late 2007 or 2008 for an undisclosed amount.
So?
PLA says Telepathy is violating its trademark by offering the domain name for sale through Moniker. It says people mistakenly go to PLA.com when they’re looking for the company’s web site. Here’s another gem from the lawsuit (pdf):
The current commercial offer for sale on the Moniker’s.com (sic) website for the pla.com domain name will actively divert traffic away from PLA’s authorized websites if a third party purchases the domain name using the PLA mark in its domain name and metatags of the pla.com domain name.
I guess this is saying that someone could infringe on PLA’s mark if it bought the domain name and competed with what PLA offers.
It’s no wonder the company wants the domain name. Right now it uses ProjectLeadership.net. It doesn’t even have a .com domain name.
Here’s another thing about Cohen (other than being a nice guy) that I know: he doesn’t back down. Especially when someone makes a ridiculous claim.
Meyer says
I agree with Andrew regarding Nat.
Plus, he can afford to fight this
in Federal court for as long as it takes.
And, I’m sure Nat’s lawyer will also
attempt to have the PLA TM canceled.
To indicate a little bit about the
intentions and character of Project
Leadership, they applied for the TM
the week following the initial negotiations.
Zak Muscovitch says
I also agree that Nat is one of the nicest guys I have ever met. I hope Nat teaches them a good lesson. A real good lesson.
Josh says
I agree, Nat is a very nice guy, hate to see him have to deal with such BS. If anything he should counter sue.
Einstein says
I truly, truly hope the lose. $80k for a top name for lifetime is a steal for those bastards. I also hope that Nate increases the amount to $800K when he wins, just for them.
Question: will they spend less than $80K on legal fees? Or did they think it’s a slum dunk? Judging by how incoherent their lawyer is maybe they were led to sue? Seems to me that filing a suit with an uncertain outcome is a dumb move when $80K over time would have secured it.
Einstein says
Yp, they filed for TM after they disagreed on the price. I hope they also refuse to pay their lawyer after they lose, it may make other liars think twice.
The funniest claim: they were known as PLA since 1998. Is their founder Yasser Arafat? That’s what I think of when I hear PLA, in addition to people’s Liberation Army (China) . http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=PLA
Andy Booth says
Agreed with all above points, I doubt it’s the last time and certainly isn’t the first time a frivolous complaint has been filed against Nat. He will win though and they will have to pay up and wise up.
sin says
This is LOL .
Pity on PLA, begging , and cant get it now Snatching. It does not work like that.
They should have gone for .net version could have make nicen combo. PLA.NET (PLANET) 🙂
But certainly they are going to lose this one for the following reasons.
1. They just registered TM after doing the negotiation, this shows bad faith that they did this just to sue so they can get the name.
2. They are going to get their Monkey Asses sued, for legal fees and inconvienence caused and other expenses related to this matter. I hope Cohen will sue them, and he will surely win this one.
3. They should learn a real lession, and end up paying over 200,000 atleast for this name, or better yet do not even get this name in the first place.
4. Their real website sucks, and There is no way VISITORS WOULD BE CONFUSED.
5.For term “PLA” they are not even found on Google
6. What the BUCK they are thinking, is this bullshit or what, such a stupid case I have ever seen in a long time.
7. Good luck to Cohen, and i hope these jump heads learn a lesson.
Thomas says
Could an article be any more one-sided? Even the comments refer to the Telepathy owner by first name. Sounds like a paid submission to skew judgement.
Zak Muscovitch says
@Thomas, the article is one sided because the case is one sided…..The plaintiff is just barking up the wrong tree here….
Thomas says
@Zak, not taking any sides here just pointing out that the writer here is clearly a friend or paid by the defendant. A true journalist gets both sides of the story and lets the readers form an opinion. This “Domain Name Wire” certainly loses credibility as a news source by posting an article like this.
Anthony says
Love how the article and commenters are even referring to this company as “PLA”, but then turning around and saying they don’t have a right to it. That’s great.
Andrew Allemann says
@ Anthony/Thomas (since it’s the same person/same company) –
The company may have some sort of rights to “PLA”, but not exclusive worldwide rights to the combo PLA for everything. Learn a thing or two about trademarks.
SL says
Wow Thomas, that was a little too obvious. Just curious…do you enjoy working at Project Leadership Associates?
If you knew anything about the integrity of Andrew’s work here, you wouldn’t even try to troll these messages like that.
Let’s juice up the engines. After all they want people not to get confused and go to the wrong site. That’s the fundamental reason for filing the suit, correct?
So here’s the info for Project Leadership Associates of Chicago, IL, the company attempting to hijack the domain pla.com from its rightful owner.
projectleadership.net
placorp.com
Project Leadership Associates
Corporate Headquarters
200 W. Adams St
Suite 250
Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: 312.441.0077
Fax: 312.441.0088
Houston, TX
2700 Post Oak Blvd
Suite 975
Houston, TX 77056
Phone: 713.961.2951
Fax: 713.877.9091
Dallas, TX
100 Crescent Court
Suite 700
Dallas, TX 75201
Phone: 214.459.3290
Fax: 214.459.3101
Department Contacts
General Information:
[email protected]
Accounts Payable:
[email protected]
Career Opportunities:
[email protected]
Marketing:
[email protected]
Sales:
[email protected]
SL says
Thomas and Anthony, you do understand how this interwebs stuff works, right?
xxx@yyy:~$ dig projectleadership.net
; <> DiG 9.7.0-P1 <> projectleadership.net
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 62614
;; flags: qr rd ra; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 1, AUTHORITY: 3, ADDITIONAL: 4
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;projectleadership.net. IN A
;; ANSWER SECTION:
projectleadership.net. 2977 IN A 38.98.143.162
;; AUTHORITY SECTION:
projectleadership.net. 171554 IN NS auth2.dns.cogentco.com.
projectleadership.net. 171554 IN NS auth1.dns.cogentco.com.
projectleadership.net. 171554 IN NS dns.projectleadership.net.
;; ADDITIONAL SECTION:
auth1.dns.cogentco.com. 8644 IN A 66.28.0.14
auth1.dns.cogentco.com. 1006 IN AAAA 2001:550:1:a::d
auth2.dns.cogentco.com. 8644 IN A 66.28.0.30
auth2.dns.cogentco.com. 4420 IN AAAA 2001:550:1:b::d
;; Query time: 19 msec
;; SERVER: 192.168.1.1#53(192.168.1.1)
;; WHEN: Thu Sep 16 12:09:06 2010
;; MSG SIZE rcvd: 217
Anthony says
SL, I do not work for that company. I am not certain what you are trying to prove by posting PLA’s address information and DNS info? Sounds like this site is just squatters protecting squatters.
Meyer says
Anthony,
I’m confused.
Are you saying that projectleadership.net
(info above) is squatting or this news site?
We also have a internet legal term called
Reverse Hijacking.
Josh says
@Thomas/Anthony, I am a little more blunt than most here, if you are not employees of or a party to this hijacking of PLA than you’re just stupid!
No daddy says
@Anthony… The reason why everyone here except you thinks this is a joke, is because we read about these things all the time. When is C&D in the cards and when it is NOT. This case is very obvious… Project Leadership Associates WILL LOOSE. Then Nat Cohen of Telepathy will be able to counter sue for all the hassle. I hope this answers your question. Best Regards!
John Berryhill says
“Sounds like a paid submission to skew judgement.”
…because federal judges always check DomainNameWire.com when deciding a case?
A Google search on “PLA” returns 55,800,000 results, most of which have nothing to do with the plaintiff in this case. To believe that the domain name was registered out of some intent directed toward this obscure company takes a special type of narcissism.
And, no, Carly Simon didn’t write that song about you, either.
Kate says
When they lose the WIPO it’s going to be more expensive and difficult to get the name, if there is still a chance.
SL says
@Thomany: The logs tell all.
In the future I’d suggest using a proxy. Especially if you’ve been posting from a netblock associated with the company or other entity involved with the case. Perhaps, say, as an attorney…
Of course it’s too late for that now.
sin says
@anthony, it seems you were paid to comment here. So stop spamming and stop calling others sqauters you need to do research, and start going to school. Piece of advice for you is, dont say anything if you dont know anything.
Anthony says
You guys are morons no doubt. Especially, SL for posting some nslookup result and insinuating we are part of the company. I personally am 100s of miles away from any of the locations of that organization. A good judge will rule for the plantiff in this matter as they are a legimate entity trying to grow and employ more people which contributes to the economy. A far difference to ruling for a bunch of fat slobs trying to scoop up as many domains as possible to hold for ransom while eating chips and playing XBox. Or is it PS3 or Wii? I am sure that debate will cause a stir among you Star Trekkers.
Kate says
Worse than cybersquatters (time to look up the definition BTW): cyberbullies.
SL says
@Thomany: Lol, gotta admit that was pretty funny.
So tell us about Kate, your latest personality. As you sit at your nondescript cubicle at 200 W. Adams St, does she whisper sweet nothings to the other personalities in your brain? Does Thomas get jealous when she flirts with you? Or vice versa?
Inquiring minds want to know.
No daddy says
@anthony/kate : HAHAHA thats a good one. Sorry but while I got my MBA didn’t have time for that, but it is still cool.
Here is a similar case on this website you might want to review: https://domainnamewire.com/2010/08/31/myhealth-com-saved-at-national-arbitration-forum/
Have fun getting counter sued!!
Anthony says
Uhh guys… I think Kate is on your side. Anyway, you guys should head on to the mall and get in line for the new Halo.
Kate says
LOL… for the record I’m not a first-time poster here. Nat is somebody I respect, and not just because he once bought a name from me o:)
Case dismissed !
No daddy says
Sorry Kate, my bad
Einstein says
“Anthony”: This lawsuit tells us everything we need to know about the (lack of) ethics of your company.
Attention customers of PLA: TRIPLE CHECK your invoices. Read the above news story if you don’t think you should.
Landon White says
@ Anthony/Thomas/Kate…lol
A Corporate World leader who
“cant even spell” LMHO
Plantiff is= Plaintiff
Legimate is= legitimate
The Three Stooges above stated the below irrelevant gibberish:
(Quote)
A good judge will rule for the plantiff in this matter as they are a legimate entity trying to grow and employ more people which contributes to the economy,AND EVEN LIARS AND THIEVES HELP THE ECONOMY WHEN THEY ACQUIRE STOLEN PROPERTY.
(unquote)
Your 5th grade IQ is way out of your leauge coming on DNW to spin your cheap hustle,
I am afraid your attorney has got you for
a nice legal fee, they are the winners FOOL.
Go back to your trailer park and have another sea salt beer and don’t … go wandering around again on your own.
( this applies to all 3 of you ) LMHO
Caesar says
Thomany, your collective asses has been hung out to dry. Guess you didn’t know that your location could be found out from your bogus posting here.
Your lawyer must be dancing to the bank right now, and buying a new Porsche from his legal fees from a case he knew he won’t win, but convinced you to jump into anyway.
Smart guy….this lawyer, making money from dimwits
Anthony says
@Landon: I think I did pretty good typing from a mobile device.
BTW: leauge = league
No need to capitalize the first letter in Corporate and World in your sentence usage either.
This guy is by far my favorite clown of the bunch so far! LOL
sin says
@anthony
Hush!