Goldman Upset Over 'Naughty' Website

It was in 2003 when Herman Bluestein, a former (disenchanted) Goldman client closed down his website, goldmansuchs.com, after waging a two-year campaign against the firm. Now, Goldman is upset because of another website, which it feels is bringing its name into disrepute.

Now Goldman is a little put out that some clever clog, a Dutchman, has registered the domain name goldmansex.com. This website, which has been up for a couple of months now, claims to provide the largest global directory for adult entertainment, and is aimed at business travellers. Goldman has now submitted a complaint to the National Arbitration Forum (NAF), claiming that the Dutch website causes confusion with its own brand.

Rob Muller, 32, the guy who owns the site (and is its only employee), plans to contest Goldman's claim. He says that 'Goldman' was a lucky nickname given to him by friends several years ago, and reckons that, until he was advised of the complaint, he'd never even heard of Goldman Sachs. Muller appears to be mystified as to why Goldman feels that there is likely to be any confusion with his domain name. 'Would their clients really think this is some sort of new product ?', he asks.

This case is somewhat similar to the recent Morgan Stanley 'cat fight' domain name spat. Morgan Stanley won a NAF ruling in May against Baroness Penelope Cat, a real feline. The cat's owner claimed that the cat had actually registered the domain name mymorganstanleyplatinum.com, and suggested that the animal was not subject to NAF jurisdiction! Anyway, the panel ruled that the cat couldn't have possibly lodged the registration, and the domain name went to Morgan Stanley.