Bancroft & Masters, Inc. v. Augusta National, Inc.

ORDER

This matter comes before the Court on defendants’ Motion to Dismiss, or in the Alternative, to Transfer, for Lack of Personal Jurisdiction. Having carefully considered the parties’ papers and the record herein, the motion is granted for the reasons set forth below.

BACKGROUND

This action stems from a dispute over the Internet domain name “MASTERS.COM.” Plaintiff, Bancroft and Masters, a small California company providing computer and networking support services, has owned and used this domain name since February 8, 1995. Complaint ¶¶ 1, 7. Defendant, Augusta National, Inc. (“ANI”), operates the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia which sponsors the annual MASTERS golf tournament. On December 4, 1997, ANI sent a letter to Network Solutions, Inc., which administers domain names, challenging plaintiffs use of the MASTERS.COM domain name, and requesting that it be transferred to ANI. ANI also sent plaintiff a letter detailing ANI’s right to the MASTERS registered mark, and demanding that plaintiff cease its use of the MASTERS.COM domain name to prevent further dilution and infringement of ANI’s MASTERS mark. Plaintiff responded by filing this action which seeks a…