NY-NY sues Calif. man alleging trademark infringement

Monday, Nov. 9, 2009 | 1:17 p.m.

See New York-New York's suit

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UPDATED STORY: Web site owner denies New York-New York allegations

Attorneys for the New York-New York hotel-casino in Las Vegas have sued a California man they say is behind an Internet site infringing on the casino's trademarks.

A suit alleging "cybersquatting" was filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas against Ronnie Katzin of Tarzana, Calif., and his Web site.

The MGM Mirage hotel-casino says in the suit that Katzin's Web site, using the phrase "New York New York," infringes on the Las Vegas hotel-casino's trademarks covering that name for resort and hotel services not provided in the city or state of New York; and for casino services.

The Web site includes an image of the Las Vegas property, but New York-New York in its lawsuit complains there is no disclaimer that the Web site has no affiliation with the Las Vegas property.

The lawsuit alleges that when users click on a banner, they are not re-directed to the hotel's official Web site, www.nynyhotelcasino.com , but instead to a Web site enabling them to book hotel reservations at the Las Vegas property.

"Defendants have and/or had a bad faith intent to profit from plaintiff's New York-New York marks," the lawsuit complains.

Katzin could not immediately be located for comment on the allegations and a message for him was placed Monday through the Web site.

Friday's suit was filed by attorneys with the Las Vegas law office Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP.

Discussion: 10 comments so far…

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By BigJC

Nov. 9, 2009

2:58 p.m.

Suggest removal

I don't see what the big problem is because the link is directed to a page to book the NYNY hotel through a national travel website. MGM just pay for newyorknewyork.com as this is a blatant attempt to get a domain name for free that they would love to have.
By tvegas

Nov. 9, 2009

4:24 p.m.

Suggest removal

Guess New York City is next
By Lenny_V

Nov. 9, 2009

7 p.m.

Suggest removal

Since when does a hotel claim the name of a city hundreds of years old?
By Bakersfield

Nov. 9, 2009

10 p.m.

Suggest removal

Up next: Paris Hilton goes after "Paris" and "Las Vegas Hilton".
Chevrolet goes after "Monte Carlo"
Buick goes after "Riviera"
Renault goes after "Encore".
Maybe that's why they are coming up with these unimaginative names like "City Center", "Echelon" and "Palazzo".
By VegasGM85

Nov. 10, 2009

8:39 p.m.

Suggest removal

I wouldn't mind so much if they just said NYNY on their site but then they added the picture... they were asking for a suit...
By Vegasvampire

Nov. 11, 2009

2:24 a.m.

Suggest removal

I want to sue all Las Vegas Hotel/Casinos for their price gouging the public: from Bottle Service, Unfair Resort Fees not stated in pricing, Cabana Rates (pay for shade), Phone fees (no wonder they invented cell phones), Internet rates ($15-20/day (they should give you a laptop for those rates, for $60 you can subscribe to AT&T), Party of 8 or More auto-TIP fee (if the server deserves a tip, I always personally give it to the server), Pay per view movies (if I wanted to pay $10 for the flick that come out in theaters last month, then I would go to the movies),etc!!!!!
By GrandmaCrabby

Nov. 11, 2009

9:07 a.m.

Suggest removal

This lawsuit looks incredibly tortured and contrived.

If you go to the defendant's website, you see a page which is all about hotels, restaurants and attractions in New York City. That is clearly the focus of the aptly named website.

You do have the option of searching for hotel rooms in a list of other cities. If you choose Las Vegas, you get a long list of available hotels. Each hotel listed has a picture of that hotel next to it. Then, and only then, you click through to a site which allows you to book a room at your chosen hotel.

For MGM to claim that the "newyorknewyork" web address trades on their trademarked name is utterly absurd. That's a pure coincidence and a sideline, viewed only by a drilldown in an area clearly separate from their main focus on New York City, the same image that MGM rips off for its property's identity.

Shame on you, MGM.
By goingbust

Nov. 11, 2009

11 a.m.

Suggest removal

New York New York should sue New York New York for stealing their trademark!
By VegasGM85

Nov. 12, 2009

6:54 a.m.

Suggest removal

Vegasvampire - although Im not fond of the "gouging fees/ rates" - no one is forcing me to pay them... I mean if I want to be "thrifty" while in Vegas (as a tourist i.e.) then I could stay off the strip (most likely avoid the resort fee), hit a lounge instead of a nightclub and order a drink at the bar to avoid cover & million dollar bottle service, not order pay per view movies in my room, check my email at a Starbucks (etc.) for free internet PLUS most casinos offer a spot/ area on their property with free internet (i.e. - at Wynn its the Cafe)... The only thing I cant ness. find a solution for is the party of 8+ with the tips... thats a tough one...

GrnadmaCrabby - How is it "tortured and contrived" the name isn't the priority (I dont think) I believe its the picture of the NYNY LV on their website... that without permission is fair and square legal trouble...