Legal Question in Technology Law in California

do i have to give up my url/website address?

hi, i started working as an independent representative for a company about 5 months ago. at the time i signed up to be a rep. (cost of 600.00) i was asked to choose an e-mail address that would also be my website address. i have now been running this business successfully from my home for the past 5 months. i have thousands of people that i have given this address to all over the country. i recieved a letter from the company last week telling me that i have to give up my website/e-mail address within thirty days or they will shut it off. my e-mail address is iphonexxxxxxxxx.com. well it just so happens that cisco systems just bought the company that makes the iphone for 300 million dollars. and it is now available through national chains around the country. do they have the right to make me change my domain name? am i intitled to be reimbursed for all of the money that i have spent to build my business thus far using this address?


Asked on 5/23/00, 12:47 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Charles Aspinwall Charles S. Aspinwall, J.D., LLC

Re: do i have to give up my url/website address?

The answer to your question undoubtedly depends upon the documents signed between you and your company when you signed on. I cannot be sure without reviewing the documents or having more information about your relationship with the company, but I suspect what they did was to assign the Email address/web site to you while retaining ownership in the company. If this is so, then they are free to "evict" you, with notice, as you were, in effect, a "renter" of those addresses while employed and, when things changed, you lost your status.

I am surely making several assumptions, and perhaps I am mistaken, but I cannot provide a more specific answer without reviewing your paperwork with the company which may have established you relationship with the addresses.

Email me with more information if you wish a more elaborate answer based upon greater specific information.

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Answered on 7/05/00, 12:32 am


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