Yahgo.com in Fight for Survival

The pay-per-click search engine Yahgo.com is battling YAHOO! in a WIPO domain dispute. Despite the fact they feel a strong case has been presented in their defense, Yahgo is very concerned.

Contact:

Mike Van Owen
Yahgo.com
Phone: 800/966-8539
FAX: 800/966-8539
E-Mail: mvp@relaypoint.net

November 09, 2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Yahgo.com Fights for Survival

(Encino, CA) - The pay-per-click search engine Yahgo.com is battling search engine giant YAHOO! for its very survival in a WIPO domain resolution claim. If YAHOO! prevails in their claim that the Yahgo domain name infringes upon their trademark, it will mean the certain demise of Yahgo (http://www.yahgo.com), the tidy little search engine that is rapidly becoming a niche favorite among many users of the Internet.

The Yahgo site, neat in appearance and uncluttered by screaming graphics or distracting channels, nonetheless offers many features germane to the visitor, such as a Daily Horoscope, Stock Quotes, Entertainment News, Weather, Sports, and News of the Day. However, to minimize clutter, these features are not visible on the actual website; rather available in their optional toolbar, which can be freely downloaded.

"The WIPO claim has us very concerned," said Mike Van Owen, creator of Yahgo. The site has had many hours of sweat equity put into it, Van Owen said. The thought of losing it all is unbearable. "Defending ourselves against this claim is somewhat akin to having to play someone like Tiger Woods 18 rounds of golf, and win, just to maintain possession of a house you already own. This, even though you've never swung a club in your life" he said of the uphill struggle to defend Yahgo against the mega-corporation. Van Owen noted that, since the Complainant wins WIPO cases roughly 86% of the time, there is certainly cause for alarm.

Van Owen said that previous cases won in domain resolution cases are usually successful because the domain name in question is a common typographical error of a particular trade name, contains the consecutive letters of the trade name, is confusingly similar to the Complainant's site, or the Respondent fails to submit a response within the required timeframe. "It would be exceedingly difficult to accidentally type 'yahgo' instead of 'yahoo'," Van Owen said, noting the nearly three inch difference between the 'g' key and the 'o' keys on a normal keyboard. "Our domain does not contain the consecutive letters 'yahoo', and there is no similarity between the brandings, markings, colorings, pronunciations or logos of the two sites, in our opinion. And we have filed a timely response. But it is an unsettling situation all the same."

It shouldn't take long for the outcome to be known. "I've always had the greatest respect for YAHOO!, and what they have accomplished in a short period of time. I have to admit though, I'm very disappointed by their filing of this claim," Van Owen said. It is expected that WIPO will have a decision prior to December 1, 2002.
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