WEB NAME ROW

ACCORDING TO a report in the Coventry Telegraph, a local firm specialising in the car repair, servicing and restoration of Land Rovers has been told by Jaguar Land Rover to hand over its web address. Alan Olner, the company’s founder, was ordered to transfer the domain name (thelandyclinic.co.uk) over to the car maker after an internet watchdog ruled in its favour.

JLR own a large number of trade marks including Landy and its representatives said “the web name could cause confusion for internet users in that they may be led to believe the website was connected with them and that the repair firm was officially authorised”.

They also added using the term Landy took unfair advantage of the reputation that they had built up and exploited its goodwill and prestige.

Are JLR unnecessarily preying on good, small, independent specialists or do they have a point?