National Arbitration Forum Issues Decision on Rachel Ashwell Web Address

Minneapolis, MN - Representatives of the well-known designer and author, Rachel Ashwell, filed the dispute September 27, 2004 with the Minneapolis-based National Arbitration Forum. Ashwell's name is synonymous with the advent of "shabby chic'; a style of interior design that made slip covers "hip' again.

It was determined by the arbitrator that the Respondent, Asia Ventures, Inc., registered the domain name in bad faith in that they registered a domain name containing Ms. Ashwell's mark for commercial gain. Furthermore, the Respondent's domain name is used to advertise Respondent's "RocketSearch' search engine website and advertisements for a travel service with links to Complainant's competitors in the business of decorating, furnishing and related services.

The domain dispute was one of thousands heard each year by the National Arbitration Forum under the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy ("UDRP") of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers ("ICANN"). The domain name dispute process is a popular alternative to lengthy and expensive trademark lawsuits.

Copies of the decision, Shabby Chic, Inc. v. Asia Ventures, Inc. are available from the National Arbitration Forum online at the following location:
http://www.arb-forum.com/domains/decisions/335486.htm

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About the National Arbitration Forum:
The National Arbitration Forum is one of the world's largest neutral administrators of arbitration and mediation services with a select panel of former judges and experienced senior attorneys providing dispute resolution worldwide. Founded in 1986, the National Arbitration Forum administers more than 50,000 cases annually with offices in New Jersey and Los Angeles in addition to its headquarters in Minneapolis.

Access additional information at the National Arbitration Forum's website at http://www.arbitration-forum.com.

Additional news information can be found at: http://arbitration-forum.blogspot.com