Harrah's Entertainment Launches Lawsuit for the WSOP Domain Name

Harrah’s Entertainment, the owner of the World Series of Poker event has launched legal proceedings against a former Binion’s Horseshoe employee over the usage of the acronym ‘WSOP’. This former employee registered the domain name WSOP.com to his name and now uses it to run a site which has information about poker.

Harrah’s Entertainment purchased the World Series of Poker event when it bought the former Binion’s Horseshoe in 2004. Since then, Harrah’s entertainment has been holding the World Series of Poker event at the Rio All Suites Hotel and Casino.

By using a series of marketing techniques Harrah’s Entertainment has turned the World Series of Poker into a phenomenon, with players from around the world vying for the much coveted title of the winner of the main event every year.

This former employee registered the domain name a year before Harrah’s entertainment took over Binion’s Horseshoe and now uses it to run a site titled the World’s Standard of Online Poker. He is also trying to trademark the site.

Harrah’s Entertainment is claiming in its lawsuit that this former employee is profiting from the name not only because he uses it to provide information about poker, but also because the defendant is also trying to break into the online gaming business. Harrah’s request that the application for a trademark be denied, the domain name transferred on to themselves, and that the trademark to the name be granted to them. They have also asked for unspecified damages to be paid to them.

How the courts will decide remains to be seen, so watch this space.