---

Porsche Applauds Congress' Passing of Cyberpiracy Bill

21 November 1999

(Editor's note: While the following story portends some promising relief to those who have suffered from "cyber-pirates", there is much work to do to stop such companies as EXCITE, NETSCAPE, YAHOO, LYCOS, etc., from their illegal use of trade marks and brand names, and their improper redirection of Internet traffic.)

    ATLANTA -- Porsche Cars North America Inc., is presently battling hundreds 
of cyberpirates who have registered Internet domain names that attempt to 
capitalize on the worldwide fame of the trademark Porsche(R).  

    Cyberpirates engage in the predatory and parasitical practice of
including Porsche(R) in a domain name in order to attract Internet traffic to
hard-core porn sites, in order to give themselves instant recognition on the
Internet, in order to extort money from Porsche Cars, or in order to otherwise
take advantage of the goodwill that Porsche has developed in one of the most
recognized brands throughout the world.  With the rapid explosion of the
Internet, competition for the attention of the nearly 200 million web users is
fierce, and trading on the goodwill of famous trademarks is one way for web
site operators to get noticed.

    "Famous trademarks such as Porsche(R) are some of the most important
assets of well-known corporations," noted Patricia R. Britton, General Counsel
of Porsche Cars North America.  "Porsche has spent millions in promoting its
trademarks.  Porsche simply cannot afford to have its world renowned name
tarnished and diluted by the unauthorized misappropriation of its trademarks
in domain names on the Internet."

    The Cyberpiracy Bill provides for statutory damages of $100,000 per domain
name against cyberpirates who register domain names that include famous
trademarks.  "Such damages will deter the thieves and cyberpirates who steal
the good name and reputation that Porsche has worked so hard to develop,"
continued Patricia R. Britton.  "Porsche Cars led the battle on Capitol Hill
in pressing for passage of the Bill.  Porsche Cars applauds Congress for
recognizing so quickly the irreparable damage that cyberpirates are inflicting
on consumers and the public when they take advantage of famous trademarks.
This Bill will provide Porsche with a much needed tool in waging its ongoing
battle against cyberpirates."

    "The Internet is no longer the domain of the Department of Defense or
academia," noted Gregory D. Phillips, outside trademark litigation counsel for
Porsche Cars who testified before Congress on behalf of Porsche.  "Rather, the
Internet is becoming a significant commercial player.  As the Internet
increasingly becomes a major player in the commercial world, the Internet must
become subject to the rules of the commercial world.  Domain names are the
functional equivalents of corporate or business names, store-front signs, or
telephone listings.  The real commercial world does not allow unauthorized
persons to use famous trademarks in corporate or business names, on
store-front signs, or in telephone listings.  The same rules that apply in the
real commercial world must also apply in cyberspace."