TwoPlusTwo sues Dutch Boyd

[The Buzz]

TwoPlusTwo is an extremely popular poker forum with over 200,000 members, 590,000 threads and 14,000,000 posts. One of the most popular threads on the site right now has to do with the company suing poker player Dutch Boyd.

According to Aintluck.com, the lawsuit stems from Boyd registering for the domain twoplustwopoker.com, which is eerily similar to twoplustwo.com.

The thread seems to be split between those who denounce Boyd and those who believe TwoPlusTwo founder Mason Malmuth is a "bully."

Here is a copy of a letter posted on the TwoPlusTwo forums:

Hi Steve,

I’m the poker player getting sued by Mason Malmuth. If you are interested in getting a comment, you can email me any question you might have or even better hit me up on skype or call my cell at (# deleted). If you just want a general comment, here is what I’ve got :

“It is never fun to be sued… especially by someone you look up to and respect professionally.

Mason Malmuth is a genius poker theorist and poker author and his books are largely responsible for much of my own success in poker, including my world series of poker bracelet.

Personally, however, Mason has shown over and over that he is a bully and willing to outspend his perceived adversaries into submission. The lawsuit he is bringing against me is based on a domain name that he currently owns: twoplustwopoker.com. It is without merit and is designed to encourage me to pay him off or face a substantial legal bill defending myself against it.

Unfortunately, the strategy will work, and he will be successful in wasting both of our time and money as well as the Nevada taxpayer’s money. The only people who will be coming out ahead in this game is Mr. Malmuth’s overpriced attorneys.”

Kind Regards,
Dutch Boyd

[Anthony]

So it looks like twoplustwo now owns the domain in question.

[mojo]

Interesting. I haven't had a chance to read it but it is of definate interest.

Briefly, if the person who bought the ripoff was a member at twoplustwo it is obviously done to ride coattails. I don't know that for sure. Just my first impression.

Or.. Does this mean I can't buy twoplustwoequalsfour?

[RayUK]

Or.. Does this mean I can't buy twoplustwoequalsfour?

I suspect it would matter if you made a poker site on that domain, but would matter less if you made an arithmetic site there!

As for the OP, it does seem a bit strange that 2+2/Mason are continuing with their lawsuit if they now have the domain in their possession. I guess that must be something to do with what Dutch had on that domain before it got handed over?

[thepokerkeep]

2p2 has every right to protect their trade name. If Boyd was profiting from the similarities in the two names, Mason was right to sue.

That said, Mason should have bought the domain years ago just to avoid this type of thing from happening.

If Dutch thought he would get away with using that domain name, he must be smoking some really good ****.

[GamTrak]

Seems like a no brainer to me. The guy use the name and built a similar niche. He deserves to be sued IMO.

[matted]

Agreed -

It is just impossible to register every domain (in every TLD) that could ever be used to steal from your success.

Of course I always make the argument that using the legal system is limited to the rich. When I perceive someone wrongs me, I have the choice to shell out thousands of dollars on a lawyer or just suck it up.

[pompeyrayuk]

2p2 has every right to protect their trade name. If Boyd was profiting from the similarities in the two names, Mason was right to sue.

That said, Mason should have bought the domain years ago just to avoid this type of thing from happening.

If Dutch thought he would get away with using that domain name, he must be smoking some really good ****.

Not sure I 100% agree on this.

Yes we all know of twoplustwo.com .whatever to be honest but the the guy wanted twoplustwopoker.com.

Why shouldnt he be able to have a go with it?

[matted]

I see the difference as he is looking to profit on the hard work or someone else.

2p2 is a brand. and his goal would be to create confusion with his 2p2poker brand and try and siphon off traffic and reputation.... possibly even giving people the idea the two brands are related somehow. You are The PokerKeep... What If I decided to become the PokerKeeper... It is different, but I'd be trying to piggy back on your success.

Now... if the domain was using generic words there is less argument, imo.

[eaton2003]

Very unprfoessional for him to send an email mentioning he is the one getting sued and open to comment. Most lawyers would advise against commenting till after the event.

[PokerNations]

Very unprfoessional for him to send an email mentioning he is the one getting sued and open to comment. Most lawyers would advise against commenting till after the event.

While I'm not much of a fan of 2+2, Dutch Boyd last I recall suffers from bi-polar disorder and has had a number of issues in our industry that he's been involved with, including an online gambling portal that went belly-up and players lost money.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's what I recall.

[arkyt]

Yes we all know of twoplustwo.com .whatever to be honest but the the guy wanted twoplustwopoker.com.

Why shouldnt he be able to have a go with it?

twoplustwo is a poker forum no? Don't you think twoplustwopoker would be "intentionally" confusingly similar?

You need to research domain laws - this should be a cut and dry case - if this went before ICANN or whom ever, Dutch would lose!

Lot of people in this industry practice the same things - they intentionally select a name similar to another one in hopes that they will get a boost of some sorts. Its totally unethical, but the pieces of scum know that the other people are not likely to pursue them legally - least not here in the states.

Sadly GPWA has no issues with the practice - they pretty much validate any affiliate site that submits - just look at all the complaints about unethical GPWA members in the ethics forum. They really do need to come up with some more stringent requirements!

I recall a story like that as well PokerNations - not sure of the specifics but it does ring a bell.

[joeyl]

It would be difficult for the GPWA to keep up with what it's members do after approval.

What about typo traffic?

[pompeyrayuk]

twoplustwo is a poker forum no? Don't you think twoplustwopoker would be "intentionally" confusingly similar?

You need to research domain laws - this should be a cut and dry case - if this went before ICANN or whom ever, Dutch would lose!

Lot of people in this industry practice the same things - they intentionally select a name similar to another one in hopes that they will get a boost of some sorts. Its totally unethical, but the pieces of scum know that the other people are not likely to pursue them legally - least not here in the states.

Sadly GPWA has no issues with the practice - they pretty much validate any affiliate site that submits - just look at all the complaints about unethical GPWA members in the ethics forum. They really do need to come up with some more stringent requirements!

I recall a story like that as well PokerNations - not sure of the specifics but it does ring a bell.

INCORRECT twoplustwo is a publishing company with a poker forum

[bonusbeast]

While I'm not much of a fan of 2+2, Dutch Boyd last I recall suffers from bi-polar disorder and has had a number of issues in our industry that he's been involved with, including an online gambling portal that went belly-up and players lost money.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's what I recall.

You're right Dutch has had his share of problems, the Online Poker room was PokerSpot and when its operations stopped they owed players over $400,000. I never heard want come out of it in the end.

[arkyt]

INCORRECT twoplustwo is a publishing company with a poker forum

Ohhh sorry for that minor snafu. Course it doesnt change any portion of the domain conflict issue. Boyd was 100% in the wrong as are any other piece of scum that register domains based on another existing one!

[casinojack]

You guys do know he has had the domain for about 5 years? they only NOW think is an issue?

[pompeyrayuk]

You guys do know he has had the domain for about 5 years? they only NOW think is an issue?

Which says to me he has slept with someone he shouldnt have or not followed orders from the twoplustwo owners.

Wasnt there mentions a few months where the owners were threatening their own moderators re copyrighting or something along those lines?

[thepokerkeep]

You guys do know he has had the domain for about 5 years? they only NOW think is an issue?

According to the whois... The site was just registered in Sept. 2009

CANN Registrar: TUCOWS INC.

Created:
2009-09-27


Expires:
2011-09-27


Updated:
2009-12-07


Registrar Status:
clientTransferProhibited
clientUpdateProhibited



Name Server:
NS1.GTLAW.COM (has 211 domains)
NS2.GTLAW.COM (has 211 domains)



Whois Server:
whois.tucows.com


General TLDs:
TwoPlusTwoPoker.com (registered and no website)