Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire
Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine during spring training at JetBlue Park. Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE
There isn't a lot of Cubs news today, so I thought I'd tell you this story.
About a year ago, JetBlue Airlines bought the naming rights for the Red Sox' new spring training park in Lee County, Florida.
That gave Eric Engelman, a Cubs fan, an idea. The Ft. Myers News-Press picks up the story:
The next day, Engelman said he opened his wife’s godaddy.com account and saw that jetbluepark.com, the domain name, was for sale.
Engelman bought it. He said he paid $8.
"I just thought it would be fun to have," Engelman said.
But the real fun is where you wind up if you click on jetbluepark.com. Go ahead. Click on it. You know you want to. (Don't ruin it for anyone else by posting the answer in the comments, though.)
The more interesting part of this story, of course, could come when MLB's attorneys get wind of this:
In 1999, Congress passed the Federal Lanham Act, which was designed to prevent "cybersquatting" on Internet domain names.
"The law was designed to give trademark owners strong rights under federal law to those who were squatting on similar domain names for other purposes," said [Fort Myers attorney Bill] Noonan, who specializes in intellectual property and trademark infringement cases. "Are they doing something not for a legitimate purpose but to extort a company?
"Now this is an interesting case, because there was no JetBlue Park at the time he bought the domain name. I’m not sure how this would be litigated. This isn’t in bad taste.
"It has a certain degree of playfulness and humor and satire, that kind of a thing."
In the meantime, a Cubs fan is having some fun at the expense of the Red Sox and Yankees. And that can't be a bad thing.
0 recs | 49 comments
Ask Cubscast what happens when you get on the radar of MLB attorneys.
cowsarecool220 - February 22, 2012
explain please
Hammer - February 22, 2012
They shut the site down
Emelie - February 22, 2012
They even told them they couldn't use red and blue as site colors.
As if MLB has a copyright on colors. Nonsense.
Al Yellon - February 22, 2012
Bah, the sight wasn't using "red" or "blue"
It was using scarlet and cerulean.
But I take it white is public domain if MLB doesn’t try to claim the white in their red, white, blue logo?
ddoubleheader - February 22, 2012
Oh
thought it was some big deal.
Hammer - February 22, 2012
That's actually a fairly big deal. The site's been up since 2005/
Nunyabidness - February 22, 2012
I enjoyed lsitening
if they ever started another one I’d love to know
Madison Cub Fan - February 22, 2012
I'm thinking they should start up "BudCast" to spread the wit & wisdom of our fearless leader...
…in true Heckler/Onion fashion.
One thing for sure – no shortage of material there.
ballhawk - February 22, 2012
It was a big deal to me and many other listeners, to be sure
They had a solid following
Emelie - February 22, 2012
The Cubscast guys were good guys.
They really got screwed by MLB.
Al Yellon - February 22, 2012
I enjoyed listening to those guys as well.
They read a couple of my emails on the air. I thought that was awesome. I miss listening to those guys. I would love for them to be able to pick the podcast back up.
CubsPanthersTarHeels - February 22, 2012
yeah
they interviewed me for my crazy little sign. They sent me all kinds of tshirts and schwag.
Fukudometer - February 22, 2012
It's a part of MLB's brilliant strategy
Rolling blackouts! It worked for Enron, right? And MLB always hears a lot of chatter about blackouts and any press must be good press, so if anyone is talking about anything, it must be positive, so they try to expand the blackouts.
Sheesh. The more time goes on, you’d think these organizations would become more tech savvy. Is it too much to ask that in the 2010s MLB at least be 1990s tech savvy?
ddoubleheader - February 22, 2012
Sorry for you guys
but I never heard of them
Hammer - February 22, 2012
I don't get it. Because it had the name "Cubs" in it?
Does SBNation pay royalties to MLB?
Nunyabidness - February 22, 2012
No.
For some reason, MLB Advanced Media objected to “Cubscast”.
Al Yellon - February 22, 2012
Well, I object to "Advanced" when clearly they're not, but I don't go shutting them down...
ballhawk - February 22, 2012
DING! You hit the nail on the proverbial head this time ballhawk.
Oxymoron……MLB Advanced Media. More similar to prohibition than anything.
mrcubsfan - February 22, 2012
Yeah, professional sports leagues have zero tolerance for funny stuff.
i do hope Engelman is enjoying his 15 minutes of fame though.
the nth - February 22, 2012
Not to mention the free advertising I gave JetBlue here.
Al Yellon - February 22, 2012
well as an American living in the Midwest...
…I feel we should put on a United front as we wing our way Southwest to Mesa to see our favorite starting pitcher Ryan. Furthermore, I pledge Allegiant to our new management as they try to increase the positive Delta on all metrics from last year, especially wins. So in that Spirit, I wish the Cubs well as they explore a new Frontier.
Oh, and if you ever ask me the best way to get to Wrigley from downtown, I’ll just say “take the El Al”.
ballhawk - February 22, 2012
While you're at it
Make sure the Yanks and Sox all book their flights into Peotone!
NobodySpecial - February 22, 2012
I personally appreciate...
your very Continental Air!
bob9550 - February 22, 2012
Which still doesn't hold a candle to that
pristine, bracing Alaska Air
Emelie - February 22, 2012
Plus the beautiful Horizon up there.
bdlugz - February 22, 2012
you know, there's a Virgin pun in here somewhere, but alas, I'm too old to find it...
ballhawk - February 22, 2012
After they get United in marriage, they usually take care of that problem.
jameslcrockett - February 23, 2012
Theo Epstein Compensation Solution?
Maybe Eric Engelman could assist in solving the Theo compensation issue.
JetBluePark.com goes to Boston.
Season Tickets go to Eric.
BartlettBob - February 22, 2012
Theo compensation issue HAS been solved...
Chris Carpenter goes to Boston, plus each team swaps a PTBNL.
lboodry - February 22, 2012
uh...
jesus christos - February 22, 2012
lol
Someone didn’t read the post…
or has a real short term memory
Archie - February 23, 2012
I will buy it for $16
Then I will create a website about chicken and beer.
lshaffer_69 - February 22, 2012
Can't wait to come to your launch party.
daver - February 22, 2012
Lemonade
The red sox should register www.jetbluepahk.com and be done with it.
RiskyBusiness - February 22, 2012
Wicked.
Mapanator - February 22, 2012
or perhaps
www.bowlofclamchowdaa.com
ddoubleheader - February 22, 2012
They can have it back
for Chris Carpenter.
Josh Timmers - February 22, 2012
I think that's a fair deal.
Al Yellon - February 22, 2012
Larry Luchino just called and he said it's not. Bud Selig's on the way to settle this.
So it should be done by June.
Nunyabidness - February 22, 2012
... June 2014.
Al Yellon - February 23, 2012
You know what Mrs. Engelman is saying about her son Eric?
My boy’s wicked smart.
RiskyBusiness - February 22, 2012
"Do you like apples?"
daver - February 22, 2012
tears of the boston media
so delicious
jesus christos - February 22, 2012
That is a good read.
I hope Carpenter does well though, it is not his fault he was the one.
jpeters407 - February 22, 2012
This made me LOL:
daver - February 22, 2012
In other Florida baseball news
The Rays have a…unique giveaway planned for the Tigers game on 6/29
Clutch16 - February 22, 2012
That's creepy
and bears a resemblance to a certain infamous bear. Not Smokey Bear, not Barney Bear (anyone even remember him?).
ddoubleheader - February 22, 2012
yikes
airfigaro - February 23, 2012
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