Reglikedomain industry desk

Chong Smoke Out Domain Name — Cheech and

Chong Smoke Out Domain Name — Cheech and

Domain owner: pack that in your pipe and smoke it!

cheech and chongComedy duo Cheech & Chong have won rights to the CheechandChong.com domain name through arbitration at World Intellectual Property Organization.

Did you ever think you’d see “Cheech & Chong” and WIPO in the same sentence?

I first wrote regarding this story back in September, predicting that the comedians would win the case. But it wasn’t as clear cut as I originally thought. As it turns out, Cheech & Chong first objected to the use of the domain name in 2004. In 2006, possibly following smoking a joint, they felt peaceful and acquiesced, letting the domain owner use the domain.

But then the comedians reunited in 2008 for a tour and wanted the domain name. They couldn’t work out a deal with the owner, so they revoked any license to use their trademark in the domain name.

Cheech & Chong still won the dispute despite at one point agreeing to let the respondent use the domain. But it wasn’t as simple as it may have been.

Also on the wire

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