By Sally Watson, 14 May 2001 12:49
NEWS With the two parties locked in a battle for Welsh votes the fierce competition comes as no surprise, but what has astonished observers is the attack takes place at the website plaid-cymru.co.uk . The Welsh Lib Dems have rejected accusations of cybersquatting, claiming the site is a perfectly legitimate ploy. A spokesman for the party said: "We need to highlight the dangers of voting Plaid Cymru in a UK-wide general election. "This is the next stage in campaigning in what is possibly the first electronic election." But disgruntled supporters of Plaid Cymru are unlikely to find much support for their complaints in court, according to Ian Kirby, IP and trademark expert at law firm Arnold & Porter. Kirby believes laws on trademark infringement and passing off which protect commercial companies online aren't deigned to shield political parties. "You would have to argue Plaid Cymru was a trader, which is unlikely to work," he said. And with internet users becoming increasingly savvy about such campaign and marketing tricks, it could be difficult to show the Welsh Lib Dems have caused significant damage, Kirby added
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