GOP sues to shut down Web site (classic GOP repression)

[Thom Little]

The Hamilton County GOP is suing to shut down a Web site critical of local Republican officeholders. The site - www.HamiltonCountyRepublicanParty.com - is similar to the party's site, www.HamiltonCountyRepublicanParty.org.

"It's illegal for another person to hijack our name," said Brad Greenberg, executive director of the Hamilton County GOP. "His use of our name is dishonest and deceptive."

He said the site's address violates trademark law. The lawsuit, filed Friday in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court by attorney Martin Miller of Dinsmore & Shohl, seeks a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to shut down the site.

The operator of the site, Michael Dalton, called the filing "frivolous" in an e-mail to The Post Friday.

"I intend to fully defend the right to free speech," he said. "The Republicans have a history, when they don't like the message, to attempt to discredit and shoot the messenger."


http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051119/NEWS01/511190330

[mtnester]

1. Stupid Repubs...they should have known if they did not want a

spin off critical site, they should have registered all the possibilities. Even our little podunk township registered as many possibilities as possible so no other person could "impersonate" the agency.

Not too bright, but too late. Too bad for them, boo hoo.

[mosin]

3. Agreed

How could they have been so stupid as to not register at least the .com, .org, and .net possibilities?

Oh, wait. They are the Hamilton County Republican Party. Stupidity should be assumed.

[Schmajo]

2. Great Advertising

How many more people (like me) will learn about and visit the ".com" site solely because of the law suit? There's no such thing as bad publicity.:rofl:

[MercutioATC]

4. Whitehouse.gov, meet Whitehouse.com

Seems this legal issue has already been decided...

[asthmaticeog]

5. Trademark law?

Did the Hamilton County GOP actually register "Hamilton County Republican Party" as a trademark or servicemark? If not, Brad Greenberg really, really needs to STFU.