Rick Nielsen wins domain name case

Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen has been awarded the domain name ricknielsen.com.

The musician was successful with a Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy handled by the National Arbitration Forum.

As a performing artist for nearly 50 years, it was decided that he could possess the common law trademark right to his name.

It comes after similar decisions went in favour of Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney back in 2000, which saw those two artists given domains containing their monikers.

The domain holder had registered the URL back in 2005, but was unable to produce any evidence that he is commonly known by the disputed title.

Instead, the forum ruled that the purpose behind the ownership of the web address was to “divert internet users to unassociated, music-related advertising websites and that such use is not a bona fide offering of goods or services”.

As a result of this, they decided the domain should be transferred to Mr Nielsen.