People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Inc. v. Michael T. Doughney

This lawsuit arose from a dispute between People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals ("PETA"), and Michael Doughney regarding the use of the internet domain name "PETA.ORG" PETA, a non-profit charitable corporation was established in 1980. PETA has affiliated animal protection organizations in the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands and India who all operate under the name PETA. On August 4, 1992, PETA was given U.S. Trademark Registration Number 1,705,510 duly issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office for the service mark "PETA" for educational services; namely providing programs and seminars on the subject of animal rights welfare and promoting the public awareness of the need to prevent cruelty and mistreatment of animals. PETA used the PETA trademark and trade name continuously in interstate commerce and foreign commerce from 1980.

Defendant registered PETA.ORG in September 1995 with Network Solutions for "People Eating Tasty Animals." Doughney's PETA.ORG web site contained information and materials antithetical to PETA's purpose.

On January 29, 1996, PETA send Doughney a letter requesting that he relinquish his registration of PETA.ORG. PETA then complained to Network Solutions which then put the name on hold. PETA brought this suit alleging claims for service mark infringement in violation of 15 U.S.C. 1114, unfair competition in violation of 15 U.S.C. 1125(a) and Virginia common law service mark dilution and cybersquatting in violation of 15 U.S.C. 1125(c).

Judgment in favor of Plaintiff.

Unknown

Unknown

For more information about this case, see: 113 F.Supp.2d 915 (E.D.Va. 2000).

Reported by Kent Morlan