Ebook reader company got what it wanted, but at what cost?
Pocketbook International, a maker of ebook readers, has acquired the domain name pocketbook.com through a legal settlement.
The company’s quest for the domain name began in 2019 when it filed a UDRP against the domain name, which was owned by SiteTools, Inc.
The panel denied the UDRP, in part because of the dictionary/generic nature of the term pocketbook. In fact, SiteTools was using it for a financial service, which is what you would probably expect it to be used for. SiteTools also had a trademark registration.
Pocketbook International sued SiteTools the next year, and SiteTools countersued.
SiteTools effectively won the legal battle. But when SiteTools went a step further and asked the court to award attorneys’ fees, Pocketbook International decided to appeal the case.
This pushed the parties into settlement talks.
Today, SiteTools informed the court (pdf) that it was withdrawing the request for attorneys’ fees because the case was settled.
Pocketbook.com now forwards to Pocketbook’s country-specific websites.
Although the settlement terms are private, I imagine Pocketbook International spent much more to get the domain than it would have had it just negotiated in good faith to get the domain at the beginning.
“ Although the settlement terms are private, I imagine Pocketbook International spent much more to get the domain than it would have had it just negotiated in good faith to get the domain at the beginning.”
////////////
We don’t know that, nice to think it might have cost them more but reality of it is often quite different.
I would imagine they paid more in legal fees than they would have paid for the domain, but you’re correct, we don’t know.
Considering the strong desire Pocketbook E-Book showed throughout this 3 year pursuit of Pocketbook*com, I’m sure they paid at least low six-figures.
Or at least I wouldn’t be dragged trough a 3 year legal ordeal to sell for less than six figures.
Adding in legal fees, emotional distress, motivated buyer and market value to the final sales cost – yeah, the original registrant walked away with a nice sized payout.