Re: [wg-b] Preliminary Questions

[Harald Tveit Alvestrand <Harald@alvestrand.no>]

At 17:16 02.09.99 -0700, Randy Bush wrote:

>to me, a lay person, the idea of protecting 'famous' names seems utterly
>unfounded.  could someone please explain why the internet should be offering
>protections to coca cola which go beyond what they currently have in the law?
Famous marks are protected by the Paris convention and the TRIPS agrement; 
international law recognizes them, so it's a question of setting up 
mechanisms to protect the rights they already have.

However, in the absence of any ruling by any legal body anywhere that a 
certain trademark is "internationally famous", I think it's preposterous 
that ICANN or any body associated with it should take on the role of 
deciding, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, whether a trademark is 
"internationally famous" or not.

I think we have an *excellent* excuse for delay and inaction on this issue, 
and that ICANN should grab that excuse eagerly.

                    Harald


--
Harald Tveit Alvestrand, Maxware, Norway
Harald.Alvestrand@maxware.no