EXTREMELY URGENT: Subeta/Neopets/Gaia Users

[Paulisacretin]

I'm not sure how much I'll owe in the end, if can get a sponsorship for the $24,000 for law school probably only about $10,000. And I'll be a lawyer. Score.

[Morningstar]

I'm not sure how much I'll owe in the end, if can get a sponsorship for the $24,000 for law school probably only about $10,000. And I'll be a lawyer. Score.

Kewl. Best of luck to you, Bambam.

In some countries, wouldn't you need to register the trademark first, before it can be 'infringed'? ...

What 'll happen then, if one of the two parties (are/claim to be) in such a country? :S [assuming that the ?chan didn't register 'longcat']

btw, thanks a lot for shortening the layers of quotes...it's getting a bit tiresome ...

You're welcome. They were getting a little bothersome to scroll through.

In the US, you don't have to register, but it is highly recommended that you do. And you brought up some great questions. Because technology is moving so fast, the law seems to always be two steps behind. Always playing catch up. And because the internet is world-wide, we're now seeing issues come up that involve entities from different countries that have conflicting laws. The US federal government has created a non-profit company to help with international internet trademark and domain name disputes. It's called ICANN. It has been working with various international organizations, like the World Intellectual Property Organization, to provide arbitration and dispute resolution of cases involving the infringement of internet trademarks and domain names. That way, a person who lives in the US doesn't have to file a court case in, say, Belgium if a Belgian citizen is using their internet trademark or domain name. Because just the plane trip to Belgium alone could be rather costly, not to mention the various attorney and court-related fees. It can be argued, and the dispute resolved, via the internet. ICANN has drafted a uniform dispute resolution policy to govern these cases. But, there is a lot of controversy concerning the ICANN right now. Lot of criticism of how it is handling things.

The law just can't keep up with technology. We, as a society, were never this global 10-15 years ago. There was international trade back then, of course. But the average US citizen couldn't very well bring a company from China into their living room. And now, with the internet, they can. So, the internet has opened up a big can of worms and countries are now finding that they have to work together to develop uniform international laws to govern it. It is a very interesting part of the law to watch as it unfolds.

[Twinkle]

Looks like Subeta has been hacked again. Whenever I go to the site, it just takes me to a picture of a Fresh Prince of Bel Air DVD. How mature.

[Jerch]

Morning star, thanks again for answer that question, it has been bothering me for quite a while.

Most websites don't connect the problem with the different regional laws governing trademarks (International law)...and all I really got out of my 'research', for the lack of a better word, was the fact that in the US, trademarks can be infringed even if they are unregistered [as opposed to the British Law, etc., I think].

I also came across a bunch of legal jargon, and a 'Territoriality principle' that only left me with more questions than answers.

[Morningstar]

Jerch, you are quite welcome. It is a fascinating area of law. On the cutting edge. And I will be interested to see how worldwide disputes involving the internet end up getting handled.

[Kiyone]

lol internet wars.

Thanks for the heads up.

[TDG]

As this thread seems to have past its usefulness, I'm going to go ahead and lock it now until their are any further updates on the issue