August 05, 2004
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: You Dirty Bird
Every time I read another article about the attempt of Penguin and one of its authors to hijack the katie.com domain name from its rightful owner, I need to have a valium and a lie down.
For those few of you who haven't already read about this on boingboing or slashdot, Katherine Tarbox's book, which involves her experiences as the 13-year-old victim of an online predator, was given the name "Katie.com" despite the fact that the publishers were aware that this domain had been owned since 1996 by Katie Jones, a small-business owner in the UK. (Apparently, the publishers had originally thought to name the book "Girl.com" but decided not to do so when they realized that there was already a porn site at this address.)
The unwanted attention drawn to the site by the book has been a problem for Katie Jones, as detailed in the open letter on her blog. As Jones notes, Tarbox's lawyer also informed her that the problem "will only get worse" and suggested that she "donate" the domain name to them.
Without dwelling on the irony inherent in the fact that the book in question is about abuse of the Internet, I am appalled at the loutish arrogance of Penguin, Tarbox, and their lawyers, as well as their blithe disregard of the effect of their decision on Katie Jones and their fat-headed refusal to make any sort of amends.
Since Tarbox, her lawyer, and Wiredsafety have now set up a new domain that doesn't use the book's title, one can hope that their further efforts to promote Internet safety will not continue to infringe on the rights of Katie Jones.
UPDATE, Aug. 7: Penguin finally decides to do the right thing.
Posted by Joanne Tzanis at August 5, 2004 04:43 PM
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