E-Commerce is the fastest growing segment of DBA research. The involvement of DBA traces back to the very beginning, when we participated in the extensive research behind the purchase of the domain name business.com, the most expensive domain name purchased in history. DBA investigates potential cyber-squatters and purchases domain names for corporate clients when discretion is needed, including those in foreign country registries. The firm purchases and tracks counterfeit goods over the internet, and develops background on persons or entities involved in the operation of certain websites.
When famed hacker Geohot, known for his iPhone and Nintendo jailbreaks, began selling hacks of the Sony Playstation, DBA was hired to find him. DBA finally identified Geohot and his mates, found him, tracked and researched him and assisted in serving him a federal TRO, ultimately bringing a settlement resolution to this issue. A profile of Geohot later appeared in The New Yorker magazine.
The Burning Man festival in Nevada was attended by a DBA team assigned by a major retailer concerned about abuse of, and infringement on, its corporate trademark in certain site camps.
The Hispanic prepaid phone card market was researched by DBA on behalf of a major client who alleged another entity was selling confusingly similar cards and exploiting their brand. An extensive market research survey was conducted by DBA of small market outlets in dozens of Hispanic commercial neighborhoods in Southern California to document alleged use of the trademark, and to determine consumer awareness of the mark and its secondary meaning.
When famed hacker Geohot, known for his iPhone and Nintendo jailbreaks, began selling hacks of the Sony Playstation, DBA was hired to find him. DBA finally identified Geohot and his mates, found him, tracked and researched him and assisted in serving him a federal TRO, ultimately bringing a settlement resolution to this issue. A profile of Geohot later appeared in The New Yorker magazine.
The Burning Man festival in Nevada was attended by a DBA team assigned by a major retailer concerned about abuse of, and infringement on, its corporate trademark in certain site camps.
The Hispanic prepaid phone card market was researched by DBA on behalf of a major client who alleged another entity was selling confusingly similar cards and exploiting their brand. An extensive market research survey was conducted by DBA of small market outlets in dozens of Hispanic commercial neighborhoods in Southern California to document alleged use of the trademark, and to determine consumer awareness of the mark and its secondary meaning.
When “Cheeseburgers in Paradise” became embroiled in a trademark infringement matter, DBA was asked to compile a comprehensive list of all business or commercial product name uses of the phrase, including book, movie or song use. We also provided a research package on the use of tropical imagery in SoCal restaurant operations.
A trademark image of a giraffe became embroiled in a trademark dispute, and DBA researched all known commercial photo and image databases nationwide for a similar image. The idea was to prove that the trademark image of the giraffe under challenge was actually too common to protect.
For the largest Mexican grocery chain and a major bank, both moving into the southwest market, DBA researched all variations of the use of their chosen trade names in that market, as part of the effort to free up the trademarks in that market. Owners of potentially conflicting names were identified and researched to prepare for negotiated settlements.
Unauthorized duplication of Lamborghini vehicles by kit car makers was the focus of a DBA investigation. We researched the web and other resources, set up appointments, posed as buyers, obtained various types of evidence in regard to kits, counterfeit parts, decals, emblems, etc.
A trademark image of a giraffe became embroiled in a trademark dispute, and DBA researched all known commercial photo and image databases nationwide for a similar image. The idea was to prove that the trademark image of the giraffe under challenge was actually too common to protect.
For the largest Mexican grocery chain and a major bank, both moving into the southwest market, DBA researched all variations of the use of their chosen trade names in that market, as part of the effort to free up the trademarks in that market. Owners of potentially conflicting names were identified and researched to prepare for negotiated settlements.
Unauthorized duplication of Lamborghini vehicles by kit car makers was the focus of a DBA investigation. We researched the web and other resources, set up appointments, posed as buyers, obtained various types of evidence in regard to kits, counterfeit parts, decals, emblems, etc.
