Archie Comic Publications, Inc. Recovers 'Josie and the Pussycats' Internet Domain Names from Cybersquatter.

Business, Technology, and Legal Editors

MAMARONECK, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 9, 2001

Archie Comic Publications, Inc. ("ACP"), the publisher of popular comic books, including the "Archie" comic books series from which ACP gets its name, has prevailed in an arbitration proceeding before the World Intellectual Property Organization ("WIPO") against an individual who had registered three Internet domain names incorporating ACP's famous "Josie and the Pussycats" trademark.

ACP has published the popular "Josie and the Pussycats" comic book series, featuring an all-girl rock band consisting of "Josie," "Melody" and "Val," since 1969. ACP has engaged in an extensive licensing program with the "Josie and the Pussycats" property, including an animated cartoon series in the early 1970s and a variety of licensed merchandise. In 1998, ACP licensed Universal Pictures to create a live-action motion picture based upon the "Josie and the Pussycats" characters. The "Josie and the Pussycats" movie was released in the U.S. on April 11, 2001, and is currently playing in theaters nationwide.

On May 3, 2001, a WIPO panelist found that the domain names were registered and used in bad faith, applying the now-established principle that "inaction" with respect to URLs can constitute bad faith "use" under ICANN's Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy ("UDRP"). The three (3) domain names at issue in the proceeding [Case No. D2001-0188] were, "josieandthepussycats.net," "josieandthepussycats.org," and "josieandthepussycats.ws."

ACP was represented by Charles W. Grimes, Edmund J. Ferdinand, III and Gene J. Riccoboni from the intellectual property law boutique of Grimes & Battersby, LLP, based in Stamford, Connecticut.