Underfire

I know I know, I promised to write more than I have been but school is in full swing and it takes a lot of time. Anyway, what is new with me? For those of you who don't know I have been issued a non-official ceist and decist from Lockheed Martin Corporation. Lockheed Martin is the company that makes all the really cool jets for the US Military, as well as spy satellites and other goodies I will probably never get to play with. Anyway, they sent me an email concerning my website that was under development (http://www.digitalskunkwerks.com) saying that my domain name was in violation of trademark and copyright laws. Why you say? Here is a brief history
During the 1930's and later, Lockheed Martin developed a special projects division. Over the years, this is where they would develop various stealth planes and fighters, etc. One of the engineers there was interviewed and called the special projects division the "Skonk Works" after a joke from a popular comic, Lil Abner, by Al Capp. The name stuck and eventually Lockheed Martin patented certain versions of the term. The term "Skunk Works" is a registered trademark of Lockheed Martin; the company also holds several registrations of it with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. They have filed several challenges against registrants of domain names containing variations on the term under anti-cybersquatting policies.

So what does that have to do with me? I got a letter from the law firm that represents Lockheed Martin, citing there was an issue with my skunkwerks and that they would like to have a word with me. So they sent me several pieces of paper, listing all the variations of skunkworks they own. NOT ON THE LIST was my digitalskunkwerks.com, however being of very little means I can't really fight Lockheed Martin and have agreed to give up the name so that they can take possesion of it. They inturn have agreed to pay me the $15 dollars I paid to register the name.

However, what really irks me is that I haven't infringed on their trademark, at least I don't think I have. Furthermore I had no intent of selling the domain name so the "cybersquatting" stuff is just bunk. But this is a perfect example of why being poor sucks. Basically I can't tell them to piss off because I don't have the money to afford the legal team to tell them to piss off. On another note, it probably isn't the best idea to tell a company that makes stealth jets and bombs to piss off.

Giving up the name is no big deal other than the fact I really liked the name and thought it would be a cool name for my personal website. However, now I have to deal with Godaddy.com who I registered the domain with and somehow work the various transition steps so that Lockheed and gain possession of the name. THAT is probably the biggest pain in the ass regarding this whole issue, cause it isn't like I just email them the deed to the cyber-property. No there are procedures that have to be followed and buttons to be clicked. All of which I don't understand nor have the patience for.

Alas, just another day in the great big world ...