Pecker Site Can Stay Up

FEBRUARY 6--Tabloid titan David Pecker has lost a bid to wrestle away the web address davidpecker.com from a California man who has used the site to house pornographic ads since the word 'pecker' is in its address. Pecker, chief executive of American Media, Inc. (AMI), the parent company of tabs like the National Enquirer and Star, filed a complaint last November with the World Intellectual Property Organization, claiming that he was entitled to the web address, which was registered last February by businessman Thomas Ferris. In his complaint, Pecker, who is described as 'a famous and highly respected businessperson in the publishing industry,' charged that Ferris's web site was damaging his good name by linking to hardcore porn sites. Pecker, 55, offered to purchase the web address for $100, which Ferris rejected. A counteroffer of $1600 was rebuffed by the multimillionaire publishing executive. In a January WIPO response, Ferris claimed that he had never heard of the AMI chief and that links to pornographic sites were automatically generated by a service where he 'parked' the web site 'because the word 'pecker' is within the domain name.' In a January 15 decision, a copy of which you'll find below, WIPO ruled that Pecker 'provided no evidence of his rights' to the disputed domain, other than the broad assertion that he is a high-profile figure. Pecker, WIPO panelist Douglas M. Isenberg ruled, has not trademarked his name nor provided evidence 'that the name is being used for trade or commerce.' While Pecker may still have recourse via the courts, a visit today to davidpecker.com turned up no evidence of links to X-rated sites. (6 pages)