Microsoft wins rights to 'windows.ru'

On November 21 2012 the Moscow District Federal Commercial Court upheld a lower court’s decision against Russian businessman Dmitry Shapovalov, who had registered and used the domain name 'windows.ru'.

Shapovalov registered the domain name 'windows.ru' in 1998 when he started the production of plastic windows. According to some sources, his website contained information about aircraft and avionics equipment.

On April 17 2012 the Moscow Commercial Court ruled in favour of Microsoft Corporation, the world’s leading software manufacturer, and prohibited Shapovalov from using the WINDOWS trademark.

Shapovalov appealed, but the appeal was dismissed.

Jelena Jankovic, PETOŠEVIC, Belgrade