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Ikea makes fan site remove adverts in rights row | Ikea makes fan site remove adverts in rights row |
(1 day later) | |
Swedish giant Ikea has made a fan site featuring ideas for customising the firm's furniture remove all adverts. | Swedish giant Ikea has made a fan site featuring ideas for customising the firm's furniture remove all adverts. |
The founder of IkeaHackers.net said she had been issued with a "cease and desist" letter in March, in which Ikea had said the site's name had infringed upon its intellectual property rights. | The founder of IkeaHackers.net said she had been issued with a "cease and desist" letter in March, in which Ikea had said the site's name had infringed upon its intellectual property rights. |
An agreement was reached in which IkeaHackers could keep its domain, "without commercial elements". | An agreement was reached in which IkeaHackers could keep its domain, "without commercial elements". |
An Ikea representative said other sites using its name "creates confusion". | An Ikea representative said other sites using its name "creates confusion". |
Jules Yap, a blogger living in Malaysia who started IkeaHackers in 2006, wrote in a blogpost: "Needless to say, I am crushed. | |
"I don't have an issue with them protecting their trademark but I think they could have handled it better. | "I don't have an issue with them protecting their trademark but I think they could have handled it better. |
"I am a person, not a corporation. A blogger who obviously is on their side. Could they not have talked to me like normal people do without issuing a C&D [cease and desist]?" | "I am a person, not a corporation. A blogger who obviously is on their side. Could they not have talked to me like normal people do without issuing a C&D [cease and desist]?" |
Ms Yap added that she had agreed to Ikea's demand to remove advertising because she did not have "deep enough pockets to fight a mammoth company in court". | Ms Yap added that she had agreed to Ikea's demand to remove advertising because she did not have "deep enough pockets to fight a mammoth company in court". |
Speaking to the BBC, an Ikea representative said: "We feel a great responsibility to our customers and that they always can trust Ikea... many people want to know what really is connected to Ikea - and what isn´t. And we think that people should have that right. | Speaking to the BBC, an Ikea representative said: "We feel a great responsibility to our customers and that they always can trust Ikea... many people want to know what really is connected to Ikea - and what isn´t. And we think that people should have that right. |
"When other companies use the Ikea name for economic gain, it creates confusion and rights are lost." | "When other companies use the Ikea name for economic gain, it creates confusion and rights are lost." |
Fans of the site, which Ms Yap says attracts about 180,000 visitors per week, expressed their outrage at the decision on social media sites. | |
Don Krypton posted on Google Plus: "This is just... I never would have thought Ikea would do this! You've created a real fan site for that company and they should be thankful." | Don Krypton posted on Google Plus: "This is just... I never would have thought Ikea would do this! You've created a real fan site for that company and they should be thankful." |
Ms Yap told the BBC she had been "overwhelmed" by support from members of the IkeaHackers community. |
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