Artist Damien Hirst miffed over 'cybersquatter'
Controversial British artist Damien Hirst has filed a complaint with the U.K.'s internet arbitration service to remove another artist who set up a website inHirst's name.
Hirst had already filed a claim in 2005 with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) against Simon Phillips, a self-styled "internet artist" who claimed the site damien-hirst.co.uk for his own purposes.
Hirst, the controversial artist best known for his experimental work involving animal parts, has threatened legal action if regulator Nominet doesn't rule in his favour, the BBC reports onits website.
Hirst's actual website, damienhirst.com, is currently under construction.
'Cybersquatting' cases increase
According to WIPO figures released in 2006, last year saw a 20 per cent increase over 2004 in the number of "cybersquatting" cases with the organization. In 2005, 1,456 cybersquatting cases were filed, the highest since 2001.
Hirst is far from being the only artist or entertainer who has had to fight fora domain name.
Others who filed claims in 2005 include actor Morgan Freeman, Canadian-born architect Frank Gehry and the estate of the late author Antoine de Saint-Exupery, according to WIPO.
"The fact that WIPOâs caseload in 2005 was the highest in four years and that many of these cases concern recently registered domain names, underlines the need for continued vigilance by intellectual property owners," said Francis Gurry, deputy director-general of WIPO.
Changes site page
The front page of Phillips's site has since been changed to lead "Straight out of Old Compton Street"— a reference to London's gay district. Clicking through brings up a link andthe following message: "This officially un-official official websiteIS now officially closed." The link clicks onto Hirst's actual site.
Phillips has set up a number of websites with addresses referring to famous figures, including artist Tracey Emin.
"He has claimed that [the website] was a forum for discussion and giving opinions, but actually it was about making money," Jude Tyrrell, director of Hirst's company Science, told the BBC.