Coventry car repair shop in web name row with Jaguar Land Rover

[dutchman]

The domain name thelandyclinic.co.uk was used to promote the garage, but it infringed a JLR trademark



A Coventry car repair firm has been stripped of its web address after using a trade mark belonging to motoring giant Jaguar Land Rover.

The domain name thelandyclinic.co.uk was used online to promote Land Rover Clinic Ltd, a firm specialising in the servicing, repair and restoration of Land Rover vehicles.

But Alan Olner, the firm’s owner, will now have to hand the address over to the car manufacturer after an internet watchdog ruled in its favour.

Mr Olner registered the address in 2014 and, although the website is still under construction in parts, it promotes Land Rover Clinic Ltd, based in Dutton Road, on the Aldermans Green Industrial Estate.

But Jaguar Land Rover complained to Nominet, which regulates internet disputes, about the web address in March this year.

The car maker, which employs over 25,000 people in the UK, has a large number of trade marks - including ‘Landy’ - and its representatives said the web name could cause confusion for internet users.

They argued people were likely to believe the website was connected with the manufacturer and that it could create the impression the repair firm was authorised by Jaguar Land Rover.

They also said using the term ‘Landy’ took “unfair advantage” of the reputation built up by the car giant, and exploited its “goodwill and prestige”.

Nominet expert, Niall Lawless, ordered the website’s transfer to Jaguar Land Rover.

He said: “I consider there is a real possibility that an internet user arriving at the website linked to the domain name would assume that it relates to goods provided by Jaguar Land Rover and that it is a domain and site owned and provided by the company.”

Mr Olner and Jaguar Land Rover are being contacted by the Telegraph for a comment.

[rebbonk]

But he's allowed to use the name, Land Rover Clinic Ltd?

The whole thing stinks to high heaven.