Virgin's first reponse to virginfuels.org letter
Sent: Monday, December 18, 2006 7:59 AM
Subject: virginfuels.org
Dear Ms Brice
I am writing on behalf of Virgin Enterprises Limited, the company which manages trade mark and other intellectual property matters on behalf of the various Virgin Group companies and businesses.
It has come to our attention that you have registered and are using the domain name www.virginfuels.org (the “Domain Name”) . In particular, the Domain Name resolves to an active website, the aim of which is to examine global bio energy issues with a special focus on green technology and investment. We note that t he website focuses on numerous fuel technologies, policies, news and investments of which the Virgin Group’s Virgin Fuels business is only one.
Indeed, y our registration and use of the Domain Name is of particular concern given Sir Richard Branson’s recent and high profile launch of our Virgin Fuels business. On the site you state that "we launched the site September 29, 2006, the day after Sir Richard Branson announced his new bioenergy investment company, Virgin Fuels".
In light of the fame of the VIRGIN name and of Virgin Fuels’ current activities, it is inevitable that the public will be confused or misled by your registration and use of the Domain Name. Such confusion is likely to make the public believe that you are, in some way, associated with the Virgin group of companies or somehow endorsed or sponsored by it . Please note that the disclaimer on your website does not remove the possibility or likelihood of this confusion and only serves to illustrate our concerns . Your registration and use of the Domain Name may also give rise to certain other trade mark issues.
We appreciate your interest in and support of Sir Richard’s new venture into renewable energy. However, we cannot allow you to continue operating under the Domain Name. As your site deals with our issues and other parties active in this area then it would also be in your interests to use a name which is not aligned to one particular business.
We therefore request your confirmation that you will transfer the registration of the Domain Name to Virgin Enterprises Limited and refrain from registering or using in the future any further domain names, trading names or trade marks which include the name VIRGIN or anything similar to it.
We are confident that we will be able resolve this matter amicably with you. We look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible, and in any event, by 3 January 2007. In the meantime, we must reserve all of our rights.
Yours Sincerely,
Mark James
Intellectual Property Manager
Virgin Enterprises Limited


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