Some fans of the social networking site have built domains like MySpaceSupport.com in support of the popular service; MySpace’s corporate masters at News Corp have rewarded those fans using MySpace in their domain names with the gift that keeps on giving: cease and desist letters.
MySpaceSupport.com sent a copy of their “thanks for everything” letter to Search Engine Journal, where Loren Baker duly posted it and discussed the issue.
News Corp has accused sites like these of a variety of horrible crimes against intellectual property, as stated in their letter:
You are illegally using the MYSPACE mark in your domain names and on your websites. Your websites offer visitors, among other things, MySpace support and discussion forums, codes, tutorials, and toolbars to allow MySpace members to personalize their member websites. MySpace has not authorized the creation of any of these features or the use of our federally registered trademark.
Your activities are causing and will continue to cause MySpace substantial and irreparable harm. You will be liable for the damages suffered by MySpace, and will be subject to penalties, fines and even criminal imprisonment.
News Corp wants the sites shut down and the offending domain names transferred to it. Their actions should not be unexpected, though, as the company has been working to become a major Internet player, and the very popular MySpace site probably rests at the center of that strategy.
Though many people will be concerned and probably angered by News Corp’s actions, there is something to consider before stopping by Rupert Murdoch’s place for tea and protests.
In a discussion with Murdok’ publisher about FedEx bringing the steel-capped attach case down on a site featuring furniture made out of FedEx boxes, it was pointed out that companies have to act against any instance of copyright infringement. Otherwise that lack of action could jeopardize the copyright in the future.
Still, maybe once the legal C&D formalities have been observed, perhaps News Corp will adopt a more enlightened attitude and find a way where the fan sites and the corporate one can live together in cyberspace under mutually agreeable terms.
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David Utter is a staff writer for Murdok covering technology and business.
