AVFM just received the news that WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) has ruled against Erin Pizzey and in favor of White Ribbon Australia in the dispute over the whiteribbon.org domain.
In their ruling, the three-member panel unanimously ruled that Erin Pizzey, pioneer and founder of the modern domestic violence shelter movement did not have a legitimate interest in the use of the “White Ribbon” name for domestic violence advocacy.
The panel also concluded that, “The Respondent’s use of the Complainant’s WHITE RIBBON trade mark in the Disputed Domain Name was due to its trade mark value and was intended to confuse users into believing that the Disputed Domain Name is associated with the Complainant.”
That ruling was made despite the fact that while White Ribbon Australia did have some specific Australian trademarks that included the “White Ribbon” name, they did not file for a trademark for “White Ribbon” with no appendages till after Pizzey owned, invested in and launched whiteribbon.org.
The panel treated White Ribbon Australia’s trademark with retroactive, worldwide recognition, for which they cited precedent.
AVFM CEO Paul Elam stated that, “WIPO’s panel investigated this case the same way the FBI investigated Hillary Clinton,” and added, “White Ribbon Australia are bullies with deep pockets beating an old woman in a wheelchair into submission and silence so they can continue a corrupt enterprise without dissent.”
White Ribbon Australia has been under increasing scrutiny as an organization that raises millions of dollars annually, the lion’s share of which goes to lavish salaries and travel, with no money going to domestic violence victims.
Their fundraising approach is strictly gendered, dismissing male victims and female perpetrators, an ideological model that Pizzey has harshly criticized at the whiteribbon.org website.
WIPO conducts its business under administrative law. Their decision is subject to injunctive relief amongst other remedies.
When contacted for comment, Pizzey said she was considering her legal options and viewed the ruling as a temporary setback. “I am not going to stop,” she told AVFM. “I have dedicated over 50 years of my life to educating people about family violence and I won’t be stopped now by these hoodlums.”
