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10|14|2009 05:19 pm EDT

NBA Star Chris Bosh’s Legal Case Wins His Domain Name and Hundreds More

by Adam Strong in Categories: Legal Issues

In a bizarre ruling in California federal court, NBA star Chris Bosh was awarded the domain name ChrisBosh.com and nearly 800 of these domain names from alleged cybersquatter, Luis Zavala of Hoopology.com.  The ruling gives Bosh the authority to take over the domain names of hundreds of basketball stars, a pro wrestler, pro golfers, and some other random domains.

Bosh is offering the domains back to the celebrity or person that the domain represents. In a statement on the published list it states the domains will be given to the celebrity “free of charge as a courtesy to the celebrity named herein, provided that such person promptly requests the return of such domain name in writing”.

Clearly Zavala was speculating by the looks of this list . He registered many college and highschool basketball player domains, but what is very unclear is how the court made the determination that nearly 800 of these domains should be awarded to Bosh. We have yet to find the filing, but we will post that soon.  Names that have no relation to a celebrity or other trademark were also awarded to Bosh including names like Hoopology.com, October24.com, Mixedmartianarts.com and 2 cities in Mexico, Walamo.com and Curimeo.

The fact that unrelated/unsquatted domains could be given up to a claimant is truly a scary ruling for domain name owners in DNN’s opinion.

UPDATE : Attornies for Bosh, Winston & Strawn,  have a press release about the case up now where they proclaim Bosh a “cyber hero”.

[first seen on ESPN]

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  • Steve M

    Though the legal basis for the bulk transfer is/are not made clear in the release, e.g.: “Bosh’s law firm, Winston & Strawn, convinced the court to award Bosh each of the nearly 800 domains owned by Zavala and Hoopology.com.” ; it’s nonetheless reasonably evident that Bosh was granted them in fulfillment of at least a portion of the court’s $120k monetary judgment against Zavala.

    This domain-transfer action was case specific; not some type of legal precedent applicable to anyone else.

    Everyone can rest easy; unless they too have (other) names which can be taken to fulfill a judgment.

    Though it would be interesting to see what; if any; value the court placed on the transferred names.

  • http://www.thehotiron.com/ Mike Maddaloni – @thehotiron

    Never heard of Chris Bosh, so I am looking forward to seeing his Web site to learn more about him! :)

    I would too be interested to see if the other domains were in lieu of the cash judgment.

    mp/m

  • Louis Klarevas

    This is clearly a cyberquatter. As a domainer I am offended by his action. He makes all domainers look bad. The fact that the writer used the word “alleged” does not mean he is not. Please choose your words carefully.

  • Adam Strong

    Louis, Your right it does not mean he is not. The word alleged means asserted to be true or supposedly. I try to be cautiously responsible in what I write. Thanks.

  • Cartoonz

    even “cockblocks.com” was transferred, with the explanation of:
    Urban Dictionary Definition:
    “One who prevents another from scoring sexually”

    WTF?

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  • http://www.damatrix.com DaMatrix

    That’s one of the names Bush was actually entitled to Cartoonz. Ask Zavala.

  • http://successclick@gmail.com Stephen Douglas

    @Louis

    Atom has to say “alleged” because he doesn’t know, and as a journalist he is trying to stay objective. Lynching anyone without total confirmation of the facts has made “lynching” illegal, for good cause. Atom wrote it right.