Adult Site May Sue Netscape Over Controversial Browser Feature, Reports CMP's TechWeb.MANHASSET, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 6, 1998--A Secaucus, N.J.-based adult Web site with an Internet address There are two kinds of addresses that are widely used on the Internet. One is a person's e-mail address, and the other is the address of a Web site, which is known as a URL. Following is an explanation of Internet e-mail addresses only. For more on URLs, see URL and Internet domain name. that is similar to that of the White House is threatening to sue Netscape Communications Corp. (Nasdaq: NSCP NSCP National Schistosomiasis Control Program NSCP National Space Communications Program NSCP Native (Mode) Service Control Point (Tandem) ) over the controversial Smart Browsing Features in a Web browser that assist the user in obtaining the desired Web site or content. Basic features include automatic entering of the http:// prefix or .com suffix for the URL as well as using previous lookups to complete the URL after the first several characters features found in its Communicator 4.5 Web browser The program that serves as your front end to the Web on the Internet. In order to view a site, you type its address (URL) into the browser's Location field; for example, www.computerlanguage.com, and the home page of that site is downloaded to you. , according to an exclusive report posted today on CMP's TechWeb technology news site (http://www.techweb.com). For months, Netscape has been using the "WhiteHouse.com" address as an example of the type of smut smut, name for an order of parasitic fungi (Ustilaginales) and the various diseases of plants caused by them. Smuts produce sootlike masses of spores on the host. the Smart Browsing features on its latest browser can filter out. Netscape's Communicator 4.5 browser has a feature designed to take users to the site it is assumed they want. When a user types "whitehouse" into the address bar, they will be taken to Whitehouse.gov, President Clinton's official site, rather than WhiteHouse.com, an opportunistically named adult site that had been capitalizing on mistaken traffic. On Tuesday, lawyers for Dan Parisi, owner of WhiteHouse.com, sent a letter to Netscape attorneys charging a Smart Browsing feature on Communicator 4.5 constitutes a possible infringement of the porn site's legal rights. WhiteHouse.com was the target of a letter from the White House in February, which said the government might take action over trademark infringement. However, WhiteHouse.com remains up at the same address, and even includes political spoofs and links to attorney Kenneth Starr's famous Starr Report. Parisi now owns one non-U.S. trademark to the name and is seeking a U.S. trademark. Parisi also posted the letter on the Web site NetscapeSucks.com, which he owns. "We believe Netscape's Keyword System is the first step toward the elimination of domain names and the 'Fortune 500 Colonization of the Internet' where free speech and expression will be things of the past," Parisi said in a short preface to the letter. He invites other domain name holders to join him in a possible lawsuit against Netscape, based in Mountain View, Calif. The letter from Parisi's attorney, Michael Calvey of the New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of law firm of Armon & Sabatini, makes a number of claims. Foremost among these is Netscape is not complying with established trademarks. Netscape claims the Internet Keywords system recognizes domains that are registered trademarks. However, Calvey said this has been applied sporadically. In particular, other domains that conflict with government entities have been allowed to get traffic. For example, "sec" leads not to the Securities & Exchange Commission, but to a software company, while "Congress" leads to a lobbying firm. Furthermore, Calvey said Netscape has targeted adult sites in its language when talking about Smart Browsing, saying it "finds Web sites with keywords in lieu of an exact address" and "filters out sites you don't want to see." Netscape has not made an official response to the letter. However, Netscape officials have previously said anyone who writes out a complete URL URL in full Uniform Resource Locator Address of a resource on the Internet. The resource can be any type of file stored on a server, such as a Web page, a text file, a graphics file, or an application program. , such as http://www.whitehouse.com, will go to the site they specified. Therefore, they say, the browser still functions with the established domain name system. Whitehouse.com is the most prominent of a number of sites that have capitalized on confusion in the Internet's addressing system. According to Web research company RelevantKnowledge, Whitehouse.com had 463,000 unique visitors, making it the 437th most popular website in the world. This put it far ahead of competitors such as the site for Penthouse, a long-established men's magazine. Other sites -- many of them also pornographic -- have capitalized on slight misspellings of prominent domain names. One company, TypoNet, has capitalized on this by buying up domains such as Yaho.com, a common misspelling mis·spell·ing n. 1. The act or an instance of spelling incorrectly. 2. A word spelled incorrectly. Noun 1. of Yahoo.com, and flashing users' advertising before sending them to their intended destination. The full TechWeb story can be found at http://www.techweb.com/wire/story/TWB19981106S0014 and an update will be posted on Monday. TechWeb, the Technology News Site (http://www.techweb.com), is part of CMPnet (http://www.CMPnet.com), The Technology Network. CMPnet is the leading hub for technology professionals and enthusiasts--the builders, sellers and users of technology. According to traffic data compiled by Media Metrix, CMPnet is the fastest growing technology network as compared to CNET (body) CNET - Centre national d'Etudes des Telecommunications. The French national telecommunications research centre at Lannion. , ZDNet and IDG IDG International Data Group IDG Integrated Drive Generator IDG Installation Design Guide IDG Internet Discussion Group IDG Inset Dielectric Guide IDG International Dangerous Goods (mail, shipping) .net. And according to CMR/Intermedia's InterWatch report, CMPnet is consistently one of the top 10 sites across the entire Web in advertising revenue. CMP CMP (cytidine monophosphate): see cytosine. (1) (CMP Media LLC, Manhasset, NY, www.cmp.com) Part of United Business Media, CMP is a leading integrated media company that offers a wide variety of publications and services in the information Media Inc. (Nasdaq: CMPX CMPX Complex ) is a leading high-tech media company that provides essential information and marketing services to the entire technology spectrum--the builders, sellers and users of technology worldwide. With its portfolio of newspapers, magazines, custom publishing, Internet products, research, consulting and conferences, CMP is uniquely positioned to offer marketers comprehensive, integrated solutions tailored to meet their individual needs. Online editions of the company's print publications, along with products and services created exclusively for the Internet, can be found on CMPnet at http://www.CMPnet.com. NSTL (National Software Testing Lab, Blue Bell, PA, www.nstl.com) An independent organization established in 1983 that evaluates computer hardware and software in the PC, mobile and gaming markets. It adheres to controlled testing methods to ensure objective results. , the company's independent testing lab and consulting organization, serves government, corporate and technology vendor clients around the world. |
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