A contractual right to use an Internet domain name is the product of a contract for services and cannot be subject to garnishment, the Virginia Supreme Court held April 21 in reversing the judgment of the circuit court (Network Solutions Inc. v. Umbro International Inc., Va., No. 991168, 4/21/00).
In 1997, Umbro International Inc. obtained a default judgment and permanent injunction in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina against 3263851 Canada Inc., a Canadian corporation — the judgment debtor — and also against a Canadian citizen who owned the judgment debtor. The proceeding involved the judgment debtor’s registration of the Internet domain name “umbro.com.” In its order, the district court permanently enjoined the judgment debtor from further use of the domain name “umbro.com” and awarded judgment to Umbro in the amount of $23,489.98 for attorneys’ fees and expenses.
