Donuts dismisses “meritless” cybersquatting claims
Donuts, the company applying to ICANN for more new gTLDs than any other, has responded to claims that it should be banned from the new gTLD program on cybersquatting grounds.
As reported earlier today, a mysterious demand has emerged for Donuts and its registry back-end, Demand Media, to be banned from running new gTLDs due to Demand’s history of losing cybersquatting cases.
A letter sent to ICANN’s top brass by a Boston law firm claims that Donuts is little more than a front organization for Demand, and should fail ICANN’s background checks accordingly.
But in a statement provided to DI this evening, Donuts said:
The letter — generated by a law firm representing an anonymous client — is rife with factual inaccuracies and meritless allegations. Demand Media is a commercial partner and is neither an investor in nor part of a joint venture with Donuts. We look forward to engaging in the ICANN review process and its thorough background checks, and are confident that we meet all requirements to operate a Top Level Domain registry.
We’re yet to hear from Demand or to receive clarification from McCarter & English, the law firm responsible for the original letter.
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My bet of who is paying the lawyer is CADNA, even considering that Verisign had some connections to that law firm in its now sold PKI business.
CADNA was not involved in this letter.
Curious why Donuts won’t buy Donuts.com first. It’s the proper thing to do.
Very True Acro!
I find it hard to believe that the two aren’t in some way independent.
Demand Media commented saying they are just in a “Quiet Period”. Sounds a bit silly to me considering how many applications are involved.
It’s all a big racket and I see this blog has no problem taking ad money from these criminals
Its amazing that Donuts can claim that there is no connection.
In demand media’s own press release they talk about how they invested 18 million and have an “equal share” in 107 names.
18 million buys about 75 names. Thats 26 of demand medias on their own and 50% of 100 more,