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In what might be seen by some as a strange twist of fate the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club have turned to the federal courts for assistance. In a story reported today by the Fresno Bee, writer John Ellis advises that the notorious motorcycle club recently filed a federal lawsuit in Fresno California under the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act alleging that a woman by the name of Fawn Meyers is guilty of cyberpiracy and trademark infringement for registering 20 Internet domain names which incorporate trademarks owned by the motorcycle club and attempting to sell the domains for profit.
According to the suit filed by Sacramento attorney Fritz Clapp, Meyers registered the domain names within the last year and then last month attempted to sell them at auction on EBay. According to Clapp, the auction description made mention of the fact that the domain names were valuable because of their association with the motorcycle club. Included in the auction were domains like ha-mc.com and 81ca.com. For the uniformed, H is the eighth letter in the alphabet, A the first, and the ca is a reference to California. The club apparently sells products which incorporate the number 81.
As opposed to filing a claim under the UDRP which would have been quicker, less expensive and likely resulted in the transfer of the domains to them, the motorcycle club chose to file using the federal statue seeking the transfer of the domain names and damages in the amount of $100,000 per domain incident.
If this case goes to trial and the complainants are successful, Meyers could end up owing the Hells Angels $2,000,000 in damages plus costs if awarded. If that happens Meyers is likely hoping and perhaps even praying that the Hells Angels will employ a similarly civilized approach in collecting any monies awarded to them as they displayed in referring the matter to the courts.
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