Nike Inc. has taken legal action in an attempt to bring down approximately 66 counterfeiting Web sites which have been illegally using company trademarks as a means of attracting consumer interest.
Although the domain names for the associated websites are registered to entities in China, the company has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Virginia due to the involvement of VeriSign Inc. a subsidiary company based out of Dulles, Va.
By using such names as NikeShoesInc.com, NikeObama.com and Nike-Brand.com, the label is being used to sell unlicensed or counterfeit products with the company’s trademarks.
Nike claims that such exploitation damages the basis behind the companys goal of producing and distributing quality products. “Through such actions, Nike is irreparably damaged through consumer confusion, dilution and tarnishment of its valuable trademarks,” the company said in court documents.
Accordingly, the worldwide brand is seeking no monetary compensation in the lawsuit, only that VeriSign transfer the domain names into Nikes control.
