Non-Profit Over OurWalmart.org Domain Name — Walmart Challenges
Firm files dispute to get OURWalmart.com domain name.
[UPDATE: The original story stated the case was against OURWalmart.com. It was actually against OurWalmart.org, which is indeed owned by the non-profit. Additionally, WIPO has handed down a decision in favor of Wal-Mart. The story has been corrected.]
Walmart has started a fight with non-profit OUR Walmart over the domain name OurWalmart.org.
OUR Walmart, which stands for “Organization United for Respect at Walmart”, is a non-profit organization representing hourly workers at Walmart who apparently aren’t that satisfied to have jobs.
The organization’s web site is ForRespect.org, but the domain name OurWalmart.org forwards to the domain name.
Walmart has filed a dispute with World Intellectual Property Forum asking for the domain name to be handed over.
Although this may seem like a freedom of speech issue, that’s not how UDRP cases work. Many panelists only accept the freedom of speech argument if it’s clear ahead of going to the domain name that it’s not owned by the trademark owner.
For example, ahead of you visit CompanySucks.com, you’re pretty sure the firm doesn’t own the site. But that’s not the case with OurCompany.com. The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union owns WalmartWatch.com, which is another example of a domain that’s clear from the outset that it’s not owned by the firm.
