Entertainers Win Internet Ruling

GENEVA (AP) â€” Singer Michael Feinstein and actress Bridget Moynahan should have control of Internet addresses featuring their names, a United Nations panel ruled Thursday. <br><br>Feinstein, a Grammy-nominated

Friday, October 27th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

GENEVA (AP) â€” Singer Michael Feinstein and actress Bridget Moynahan should have control of Internet addresses featuring their names, a United Nations panel ruled Thursday.

Feinstein, a Grammy-nominated artist who has produced 17 albums, was granted michaelfeinstein.com, michaelfeinstein.net and purefeinstein.com. All three were registered by PAWS Video Productions of Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Moynahan, who plays Natasha on HBO's ``Sex and the City,'' was awarded control of bridgetmoynahan.net, registered by Fantastic Sites of Lincoln, Neb.

Neither Fantastic Sites nor PAWS responded to letters from the U.N.'s World Intellectual Property Organization.

Anyone can register a domain name for a few dollars, which has led so-called ``cybersquatters'' to file for famous names to make money from those who want the names.

Since its launch last December, WIPO's arbitration center has resolved hundreds of cases, giving rights to disputed Internet addresses to the person, organization or company after a short, inexpensive procedure that can be conducted over the Internet.

Some domain name owners who have been ordered by WIPO to hand over the names have taken their cases to court.