America might still run the internet, but even the biggest bank in the world has to take its time when it comes to cyber-squatting.
In 1998, before the ink was even dry on the Citicorp/Travelers merger, one Jim Davies registered the domain name citigroup.co.uk through his IT security company. Now, in the English High Court, Citigroup has finally turfed Davies off its intellectual property.
Davies is not thought to have made any commercial gain out of registering the domain name, although he did receive emails intended for Citigroup. The judge described his claim that he registered it on the day that the merger was announced as a co-incidence as nonsense.
Still, it’s nice to know that the relentless march of technology hasn’t infected every aspect of commercial life. The judge, Mr Justice Park, delivered his judgment in favour of Citigroup in his own handwriting.