It turns out that Tiscover (in whose name 3981 domains were fraudulently claimed
at Sunrise) are a major Austrian player in the online community there. If it is true
that "Plankenstein" overstepped his brief then it may be worth e-mailing or phoning
some of the contacts at the LINK below, to see if we can get to the bottom of what
really happened. Since they will not wasnt to lose their reputation, I think they
might be persuaded to investigate in detail what happened, renounce their claim to
the fraudulently stolen names, and demand that Afilias delete all 3981 names.The
link is:
http://homes.tiscover.com/content/about_us/english/f_home_part...2.html
This
is information about Tiscover I have copied from the English version of their website
at www.tiscover.at :
"TIS GmbH is a marketing company for tourism, specializing
in the field of electronic destination marketing. The focus of our activities lies
in the development and support of integrated information and booking systems for
the online market, with emphasis on covering an entire destination (country/nation)"
"Competent, creative, responsible and motivated staff members follow the motto
"we develop multi-media solutions for the online market to increase the success of
our customers and partners"."
"Tel: ++43-512-5351-666
helpdesk@tis.at"
"Our
product meets the highest quality standards, perfect service is part of our success.
Therefore, our HelpDesk is at your disposal Mondays through Fridays, 8:00 am till
5:30 pm"
"TIScover Austria is one of Austria's most popular online – services.
The statistics show you the number of page views and visits and the actual number
of bookings and reservations."
"TIScover.at and T-Online: A perfect Partnership"
"A
perfect example of a perfect partnership! For two years now, t-online, Europe's biggest
provider of Internet Services, has been trusting in TIScover.at, when it comes to
Austria vacations. Since January 2000, t-online has been available on the Austrian
market and since May 2000, the t-online.at services as well. By the end of the year
2000, t-online aims at being among the top 3 of Austrian Internet providers. And
TIScover.at is included within an attractive service package. The Portal of all t-online.at
clients and the much-visited information platform is continuously updated by a ten-member
editorial team. When it comes to the topic of "Austria vacations", however, the Internet
experts fully trust in the TIScover team. Interested t-online users can head for
a virtual travel across the TIScover holiday world at one single click, including
information on lodging opportunities, package deals, events and weather reports,
the route planner and the ultimate 3-click reservation center. "The secret of success
is based upon a perfect technology, a perfect offer and up-to-date contents - and
the easy accessibility plays a decisive role in the rapid development of E-Commerce
as well," says Arno Ebner, managing director of the TIScover company. "Interested
users don't want to get lost in the Internet - what they want is a perfect blend
of Infotainment and services combined on one platform. And our strategy of building
strong partnerships is backed up by the fact that t-online, being a Big Player in
the Internet, relies in the TIScover system."
For further information please contact:
TIScover-presse-releases, Maria-Theresienstr.55, A-6020 Innsbruck
Email: presse@tis.at,
Tel: ++43/5351-641, Fax:++43/5351-600
Once again, the LINK to a list of e-mails
and phone numbers of Tiscover staff and clients:
http://homes.tiscover.com/content/about_us/english/f_home_part...2.html
Tiscover
have built their business plan around blanket online coverage of places throughout
a country (and primarily Austria). Konrad Plankenstein's actions fit very much with
this strategy. But were Tiscover themselves part of this fraud, or was Plankenstein
an over-zealous employee? Where did the $500,000 come from? Did no-one at Tiscover
check or stop what was going on? Will Tiscover NOW save their reputation by demanding
this FRAUD is reversed, and demanding that Afilias DELETE ALL THESE NAMES AT ONCE.
Plankenstein has admitted they were False. They are false. Is Tiscover false? Are
they fraudsters or are they a reputable company?
And are Speednames a reputable
Registrar to accept $500,000 to help Plankenstein carry out his FRAUD?
And are
Afilias a reputable Registry to register all these FAKES, and not delete them, even
when the applicant has admitted they are Fakes?
Action please. Let's ask some of
these employees and company leaders whether they accept the fraud that has taken
place.
Because one thing is for certain.
This is MASSIVE fraud.
The largest
single Trademark fraud in the history of the Internet - 3981 names...