'Surprise' as Liverpool FC DEFEATED in legal dispute

Liverpool FC suffered defeat in a legal dispute recently that was greeted with ‘surprise'.

Liverpool are one of the world's biggest football clubs - an international institution that leaves them striking deals across the planet. From footballers to tours to merchandising to academies.

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That's just the nature of being such an enormous presence in the world's most prominent game. Liverpool are left dealing with all sorts.

And yet, they still find themselves dealing with pretty petty disputes. They found themselves in such a case this month.

Liverpool have reportedly lost a legal dispute over cyber-squatting, according to Domain Name Wire. That's the practice of buying a domain for a prominent brand and doing nothing with it.

Or, alternatively, doing something with it that you shouldn't be doing.

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This particular dispute is over the domain liverpoolfctickets.com. It's quite plainly a URL with Liverpool Football Club in mind - but it's not actually owned by the club.

It's a 25-year-old domain and was most recently acquired in December. It doesn't actually lead anywhere right now, though previously it had ads for 'watch live soccer' and 'buy Liverpool tickets'.

Liverpool believe the domain is rightfully theirs as it isn't being used for Liverpool FC tickets but is quite plainly suggesting you can buy them there. So how did they actually lose this?

Liverpool lose legal dispute

Liverpool filed a claim for the domain with Czech Arbitration Court, believing this should be routine. If a domain isn't being used for the purpose it suggests, it can be handed to the relevant party.

Only, the court argued that the domain could be used for Liverpool FC ticket information. Until it's proven that there is no intention to use it for that, it appears the club won't win here.

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The article admits this is 'surprising' and believes Liverpool FC will eventually win this one. But they suffered an immediate defeat - and will have to wait.

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The court made it clear that domains are there on a first-come, first-serve basis. Liverpool aren't willing to pay for the domain, either, but believe they should be handed it.

For the immediate future, though, they won't own that domain and this is a court case they've lost.

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