Apple having problems getting iTunes.co.uk

It has been quiet sometime since we heard news related to domain name issues. Microsoft recently had some with a kid named Mike Rowe who opened up a site MikeRoweSoft.com but later settled down when things got out of hand.

Now Apple is finding themselves in a possible domain name troubles. They are trying to get hold of the domain iTunes.co.uk for their Britain music store version of iTunes. They have sent a formal complaint to the registrar Nominet asking them to get control of the domain.

The current owner of the domain is Benjamin Cohen and Apple has already tried sending letters to him. However, things might not be as easy as it seems. Cohen owns the domain since 7 November 2000, which is before Apple applied for trademarks on the term iTunes. This weakens Apple’s claim.

Moreover, Cohen has been using the website for his own purposes. And just holding the trademark to the term iTunes does not legitimize Apple’s claim for the domain. Therefore, they just might have to settle out of the court. Maybe they could go Microsoft’s way of doing things for a change. Offer the owner some real cool Apple goodies and get some deal in return!