Maker files its first UDRP — Angry Birds
Firm goes following site selling Angry Birds merchandise.
Rovio Entertainment, the firm behind the wildly popular Angry Birds franchise, has filed its first ever domain dispute under the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP).
The firm is targeting the owner of AngryBirdSite.com and AngryBirdsmart.com.
As of right now, AngryBirdSite.com resolves to a web site with an AngryBirdsMart logo that sells products emblazoned with Angry Birds designs. It sells shoes, iPhone cases, keychains, hats, alarm clocks, etc. AngryBirdsmart.com resolves to a page that states the domain has expired (even though it appears to have regarding a year left on its registration).
The whois records for both domains show a common owner in China.
You can bet that the goods are either unauthorized or the seller is unlicensed, hence the UDRP action. Although UDRP handles cybersquatting cases and not the sale of counterfeit goods, it’s a useful tool to take down such a site when the site uses the trademark in its domain.
