LVS Awarded 2 Million in Online TradeMark Case

Tuesday January 20,2015 : COURT AWARDS $2M IN LVS TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT

If Las Vegas Sands can identify who is behind the domains

In a trademark infringement case dating back to June 2014, a U.S. District Court in Nevada awarded Las Vegas Sands (LVS) $ 2 Million from 35 domains taking advantage of the Las Vegas Sands trademark.

The registrants of the domain names operating out of China, who Judge James C. Mahan enjoined in the proceedings, abused the LVS trademark in various forms including the use of the logo and images of LVS’ Venetian Resort giving the false impression that they were affiliated to the company.

Identifying the registrants, however, is complicated as they are protected through the use of privacy protection services provided by popular registrars Go Daddy, Name.com and eNom.

The ruling sends a clear message to online operators infringing trademarks but the issue is ironic in itself considering chairman and chief executive officer of the Las Vegas Sands Sheldon Adelson is a staunch opponent  of legalising online gambling in the U.S. and backs the Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling.