HENDERSON, Nev., Dec. 10, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- www.YellowPages.com, Inc., the leading online business directory resource, announced today that it has filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, against YELLOVVPAGES.COM, an internet-based company that purports to offer business directory services using a trademark and domain name confusingly similar to the famous YELLOWPAGES.COM trademark, substituting two "V"'s for the "W" in "yellowpages."
The Complaint filed by YellowPages.com alleges that the defendants, which include Yellovvpages.com, its registered owner Bob Grover, and Only.com, a company which YellowPages.com believes provides the content for yellovvpages.com, used the confusingly similar name, web site address and logo in order to confuse YellowPages.com customers and potential customers. YellowPages.com received multiple complaints from more than 300 businesses and individuals about spam e-mail from Yellovvpages.com. Some individuals and businesses said that they paid Yellovvpages.com for an "upgraded listing" on www.yellovvpages.com under the mistaken belief that they were signing up for a YellowPages.com listing.
Upon learning of Yellovvpages.com's activities, YellowPages.com issued a warning to all of its customers informing them of the scam and posted an 'Advertiser Alert' on the YellowPages.com Web site. YellowPages.com is providing a free listing to its customers who mistakenly paid money to Yellovvpages.com.
"We will protect our YellowPages.com trademark and the consumers who trust and depend on the reputation and goodwill associated with that mark. This means that we will be extremely vigilant and hold fully accountable anyone who tries to misuse our trademark for their gain," said Dane Madsen, president and chief executive officer of www.YellowPages.com, Inc. "Unfortunately, this sort of situation happens all too often -- in every industry and in every corner of the world. It is lamentable that unscrupulous individuals and businesses take advantage of the ease and efficiency of the Internet and the reputations of trusted brands to scam consumers in this way."
"Misleading or fraudulent Yellow Pages solicitation schemes continue to cause concern in the Yellow Pages industry, and the YPIMA continually works with its membership and with government entities such as the Federal Trade Commission to raise awareness and safeguard against these practices," said Neg Norton, president of the Yellow Pages Integrated Media Association, the trade organization of the Yellow Pages industry. "The Yellow Pages industry has a long history of combating this practice, and we support efforts by organizations to do everything they can to stop it."
The YellowPages.com Complaint seeks a preliminary and permanent injunction enjoining Yellovvpages.com, Bob Grover and Only.com from using the trademark 'Yellovvpages.com,' or any other trademark or domain name that is confusingly similar to YellowPages.com, on or in connection with any advertisement, internet Web site, goods or services.
About www.YellowPages.com, Inc.
www.YellowPages.com, Inc., the online Yellow Pages, provides a "one-stop" online hub to customers for a variety of up-to-the-minute, local, national and international business information and services at the Internet site, www.yellowpages.com. The company connects people to their local sources for goods and services, and acts as a powerful business tool for advertisers by fostering recognition and usage. www.YellowPages.com was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Henderson, NV.