Intel shuts down Intelcities

[Xyzzy]

I received this message from Intelcities.com:

Sat, 31 Mar 2001 21:01:06 PST

From: "City Controller" <controller@intelcities.com>
To: C_Memb@intelcities.com
Subject:
IMPORTANT - SPECIAL REPORT FROM INTELCITIES.COM


This is a message I do not take joy in writing.
We have done everything to avoid our position but
we are left with no choice. Intel Corporation has
threatened to take legal action against our company
for the use of the word "intel" in our domain name.
The information has been posted, including the letter
received by their legal counsel, on our main page.
It will remain there until April 30, 2001, when the
servers will be shut down.

You will be able to access your pages during this time.
However, some features may not work, including file
uploading. Our signup process for new memberships has
been closed.

The staff and management at Intelcities thanks you for
your support in reaching the level of quality that a
free home page community should be.

If you have any comments regarding the shutdown of
Intelcities, we have posted the contact information
on our main page.

Best Regards,
City Controller
Intelcities.com
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The scanned legal document received by Intel is available on http://www.intelcities.com/. They had it coming to them.

[Haze]

Here is an idea! Change your name! Is it just me or is the world getting stupiderer?

[Hoth]

I certainly agree with Intel's point of view on this. Intelcities was obviously trying to use the Intel name for their own profit.

Well, I guess changing their name and establishing their own identity is just too difficult of a concept for them.

[LeX]

Originally posted by evilhaze
Here is an idea! Change your name! Is it just me or is the world getting stupiderer? [/B]


From http://intelcities.com/
The costs of beginning over with a new domain name and the work involved are financially overwhelming.
That should explain your post.

[sHaWn]

10 dollars is financially overwhelming?

[laurie]

Maybe they mean the new advertising.
But I can't see that it would be that expensive.

[rmsharpe]

"I certainly agree with Intel's point of view on this. Intelcities was obviously trying to use the Intel name for their own profit. "

How in God's name did IntelCities profit if they hosted pages with NO ADS on them? Care to answer, Hoth?

[Webdude]

Oh gimme a friggin break. Thats like if Worldcom tried to go after Worldzone. I'd tell them to go sit on Jack's candlestick. Give me the name IntelCities and I would let Intel take it to court anytime they wanted. I'd come out of it with so much of their money for their attempt at a frivolous lawsuit...LOL...I mean c'mon, if the people at IntelCities believe they can actually and legitimatly be sued over that, maybe you dont want to host with them anyway...

Anyone know the owners? I'd love to have the domain name, and if they are willing to turn it over, I would keep the service alive..I wouldnt pay for it(as in BUY it), but I would keep the service up and running if it's good.

[Chicken]

Certain aspects seem plausible, and certain aspects do not, but it is the owner's choice as to whether they wish to pursue the matter and apparently they do not.

They didn't seem to research this matter very much, and find out what could be done, rather they decided to abandon the idea based on this letter alone.

I'm sure Intel is quite happy with this, but otherwise...

This is not the same as Worldcom going after Worldzone however.

[Canuckkev]

Intel Intelcities Intel Intelcities Intel Intelcities Intel Intelcities Intel Intelcities Intel Intelcities Intel Intelcities Intel Intelcities Intel Intelcities Intel Intelcities Intel Intelcities Intel Intelcities Intel Intelcities Intel Intelcities Intel Intelcities Intel Intelcities Intel Intelcities Intel Intelcities Intel Intelcities Intel Intelcities Intel Intelcities
Copletely different, IMO...

[Coolin]

One can't really sue over the name Worldzone as "World" is a common word that probably cannot be trademarked.
Intel, however, is not a common word if it even is one. So they could be sued over this.

[Hoth]

Originally posted by rmsharpe
How in God's name did IntelCities profit if they hosted pages with NO ADS on them? Care to answer, Hoth?

Yes. They had ads all over their own pages, and forced everyone to use browser uploads in order to get lots of banner impressions. It was supposed to be community oriented (note the "cities" part), so they hoped to get their webmasters to come to their site and interact and give them more banner impressions. It was in fact aimed at beginners who would have to come to their site for help very often, use their page creation tool, etc. I think it's safe to assume that IntelCities was making a profit.

People are more likely to use something they've heard of and think they can trust. The Intel name is trusted above some unknown name, because people trust that Intel won't suddenly go bankrupt and shut down in a few months. IntelCities was in fact profiting from the Intel name.

[Woofcat]

Originally posted by Webdude
Oh gimme a friggin break. Thats like if Worldcom tried to go after Worldzone. I'd tell them to go sit on Jack's candlestick. Give me the name IntelCities and I would let Intel take it to court anytime they wanted. I'd come out of it with so much of their money for their attempt at a frivolous lawsuit...LOL...I mean c'mon, if the people at IntelCities believe they can actually and legitimatly be sued over that, maybe you dont want to host with them anyway...

Come on... If I started a host called WorldzoneCities you know you'd put up a fight... Most visitors to people's sites on intelcities would probably assume intel owned the host. They have a legit claim.

[jonny]

I dunno. When I first saw it I thought that I was run by someone trying to get something (users) for nothing (intels name).

What kind of fools would bother trying to do that ;-)?

[Webdude]

Hey wait a min....we're talking about Intel, not WZ! :)

[jonny]

I was actually talking about us also. We expect way too much for nothing.

[Coolin]

Originally posted by jonny
I was actually talking about us also. We expect way too much for nothing. This is what I think:
We've been pampered by the free services we've had in the past. We can't settle for anything but the best.

[Baggio]

Thats what makes us all human. Once u get something good, u expect @ least the service of the same quality if not better. Anything worse will then seem like sh*t to u.

[LeX]

Not only humans. Don't forget our cow and chicken! ;)

[Xyzzy]

Here's another update:

Dear Valued Member,

I would like to provide you with a short statement
regarding intelcities’ present position. We have
received numerous emails with regard to accessing
your home pages. We are currently upgrading our
system and will complete these changes as promptly
as possible. We apologize for any inconvenience
this may cause you.

On a brighter note, I would like to inform you
that intelcities.com will remain as it was for an
indefinite period of time. The resolve with Intel
has not been settled, however, we are in a
stalemate position.


Thank you for your patience and understanding.

City Controller
intelcities.com


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