New Internet Trademark Law Angers Internet Moguls

None by Eric Ray

(KCPW News) Utah's new Trademark Protection Act has drawn the ire of several major Internet companies who call it unconstitutional and are threatening legal action. The law prohibits Internet companies from selling a trademarked brand as a keyword, which allows advertising for competing companies to show up during a search for a specific name brand.

Matthew Prince, co-founder of Internet safety company UnSPAM, says businesses can now come to Utah seeking trademark protection, meaning extra revenue for the state. He says every country in the world, except the U.S. and Canada, already have similar trademark laws.

Opponents of the law say it's unnecessary. Pete Ashdown, owner of XMission Internet, says trademark law is already strong enough to protect companies and he calls the act regressive. Ashdown says the Internet is a "perfect free market" the government should stay out of.

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