|  | 00:42 GMT 02.12.99

|  |  |  | eToys vs. etoy - The Plot Thickens
By William Rowe 21.11.99 Coming hot off the press, we have the latest update to the ongoing eToys vs. etoy case. This update comes direct from their email, hence the format differences: etoy.com is still online! we survived the first round and spent more than four times as much money as we did for the production of the digital hijack! just to protect our rights... a few days before the first court hearing in L.A., the leading online toy retailer offered to stop the lawsuit and to hand over an amount of 160 000 $ (about 300.000 DM) in cash and shares to take over the etoy.com domain name. even though the eToys business men are not familiar with contemporay art and therefore not aware of the value of the "etoy.BUSINESS" they must know that their offer is far from acceptable considering the fact that we would loose the etoy.com domain: all our artistic endeavours and art actions are connected and related to this internet address. this has been the concept from the first day of operation and the most important paradigm of etoy art work. the domain name is the established and exclusive way to consume the famous and multiawarded etoy. ONLINE-ENTERTAINEMNT- SERVICES (the core of the etoy.IDENTITY since 1995). eToys Inc. set up one of the leading zero gravity corporations (depending on ONE single domain name). so they know what they ask for: a well established brand in the media art world - our whole identity. that's not something you can pick up like a can of coke in a 5 min. break. RESULT: the etoy.BOARD rejected the offer in the name of the "etoy.SHAREHOLDERS" who invested in one of the most exciting internet art viruses. and so the first hearing in the case took place on monday november 8, 1999 (united states district court / central district of california). a jury was supposed to decide on the preliminary blocking of the domain etoy.com. but on demand of the eToys attorneys the case was sent back to state court: this didn't cause a preliminary blocking of the domain. this strategic move is just aiming at the increase of our expenses. the next hearing has been fixed for november 29, 1999 (superior court of the state of california for the county of los angeles). the eToys attorneys urged the court to press ahead with the processing of the case and to fix an earlier date (having concerns about their xmas sells). but the court didn't follow this request. after this defeat eToys general counsel peter juzwiak called our attorney and offered 400 k to solve the problem without negative publicity. the "etoy.SHAREHOLDERS" are called to vote on further directions. To register your support to “Save Etoy” mail us on saveetoy@ninfomania.com
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