Terminator4.com decision

Ovicide · Jul 29, 2004

In this morning's "Domain Decisions" mailing from wipo.int:
http://arbiter.wipo.int/domains/decisions/html/2004/d2004-0065.html

In the text of the decision, under 4. Factual Background, it says:

...the Complainants made Ã¢â¬Åa pretextual bid of $60,000,000Ã¢â¬Â for the Domain Name. (Complaint, p.8.) A negotiation period followed, during which the Complainants and Respondent traded various offers and counteroffers.

1. What's a "pretextual bid"?

2. Is the sixty million dollar amount a typo? If not, why wouldn't the respondent accept the offer?

legal · Jul 29, 2004

before it was committed to writing or text, seems it was 60K since they mention 50K later

seems the mark had some old connections to another company and they only assumed the rigths via bankruptcy

only at wipo could a decision like this be made

namedropper · Jul 29, 2004

Here's what the respondent said:
"Finally, the Respondent contends that it does possess a legitimate interest in the Domain Name. Namely, the Respondent asserts that its principal, Mr. Andrew Dorrani, intended to start a business in credit repair. The Domain Name was to be used in association with this credit repair business. The Panel takes notice that the Domain Name currently resolves to a web page that includes the slogan Ã¢â¬ÅTerminate all your debts 4 life and 4 ever.Ã¢â¬Â

That's got to be the lamest, most worthless claim of legitimate rights I've seen, and I've seen lots of bad ones.