Shows up to defend domain name — Addicting.com owner
Addicting.com owner challenges in rem action.
The owner of the domain name Addicting.com showed up to defend its domain name in a lawsuit.
Addicting Games, Inc., led by Bill Karamouzis (podcast), filed an in rem lawsuit against the domain name in January claiming cybersquatting.
Federal Investment Group, LLC (FIG), led by Krikor Bedrossian, has now filed with the court (pdf) to dismiss the case or move the jurisdiction.
FIG is Nevada corporation.
As stated by the motion, Bill Karamouzis met with Krikor Bedrossian at a TRAFFIC conference in 2011, and the two discussed the domain name. Bedrossian questions why in rem is proper given that Karamouzi allegedly knew who owned the domain name.
The motion also states that the domain has had common ownership since 1999. This predates Addicting Games’ trademark, which would mean the domain was not registered in bad faith to target the mark.
An affidavit (pdf) from lawyer Paul Keating is included in the filing. The affidavit includes supporting documentation regarding the ownership of the domain.
