Wal-Mart has tried it and
lost. So has
Jerry
Falwell.
But little things like legal precedent aren't about to deter investment bank Goldman Sachs from attempting to shutter a gripe site. The bank's white shoe law firm, Chadbourne &
Parke, recently demanded that the founder of GoldmanSachs666.com cease and desist publishing the blog. Instead, site creator Mike Morgan blogged about the demand and posted a copy of the letter.
In it, the bank's attorneys
raise a host of bogus legal theories, including trademark infringement and unfair competition. You don't need a law degree to spot the problem: Goldman Sachs the investment bank and
GoldmanSachs666.com don't compete for business.
Companies can legitimately complain when their trademarks are harnessed in a confusing way. Goldman Sachs did win one case in the past, but
that dealt with the Netherlands-based adult site Goldmansex.com -- which the National Arbitration Forum found was potentially confusing to Web users.
Here, it's not even plausible
that unsuspecting readers will be duped into thinking the investment bank is connected to the site, which carries headlines like, "Did Goldman Sachs Scam the System with AIG?"
Certainly, if
there was any doubt, the disclaimer at the top of the site should resolve the issue: "This website has NOT been approved by Goldman Sachs, nor does this website have any affiliation with Goldman
Sachs," states the note. "This website was designed to provide information about Goldman Sachs direct from the public, and NOT from Goldman Sachs's marketing and public relations departments. You may
find the Goldman Sachs website at www.goldmansachs.com."
Regardless, Morgan is prepping for a legal battle with Goldman Sachs. "Needless to say, we will most likely fight this one in court
with Goldman Sachs, and now we will expedite adding relevant content to this website," he writes.