The World Intellectual Property Organization issued a ruling today ordering the transfer of the domain name www.pbsnewshour.org to the producers of the venerable news show PBS NewsHour.  Gray Reed & McGraw internet lawyer Travis Crabtree and trademark lawyer Carol Wilhelm represented the producers, MacNeil Lehrer Productions in the arbitration and also assisted with the purchase of the domain name www.pbsnewshour.com on a pro bono basis.

In December, the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer rebranded itself as the PBS Newshour. In support of quality journalism and public broadcasting, Gray Reed & McGraw agreed to represent MacNeil Lehrer Productions on a pro bono basis to assist with the acquisition of the related domain names.  While Gray Reed & McGraw was able to able to facilitate the purchase of one domain name, the firm was forced to file an arbitration claim with WIPO to obtain the pbswnewshour.org name from a cybersquatter pursuant to the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy applicable to all domain names. As a result of today's ruling, MacNeil Lehrer Productions will be able to add the domain names to its current url of www.newshour.org.

You can read today's decision MacNeil Lehrer Productions v. Swallowlane Holdings, Ltd., WIPO Case No. D2009-1465 here.  You can read more about Travis Crabtree's internet law practice and domain name disputes on his blog www.emedialaw.com.