BookMaid is on MySpace
December 26th, 2008BookMaid is now on MySpace!
Blog
BookMaid Switches Hosting Providers
November 19th, 2008BookMaid has been down for an extended period of time. I appologize for this. BookMaid has switched to MediaTemple to provide its web hosting. This is an change that had to happen. Since the switch, users will have a faster, safer, and more relaible experience.
During the downtime, I began speeding up the book category system. Unfortunately, it took longer than expeted.
If you experience any bugs, please be sure to contact BookMaid.
BookMaid at Imagine RIT - iPod Winner Announced
October 15th, 2008
BookMaid had an exhibit set up at Imagine RIT, with an estimated 17,000-20,000 people at the festival.
Darrick Kristich, an RIT student won BookMaid’s Imagine RIT iPod Giveaway. Users who either signed up for BookMaid.com, or signed in using their existing account would be elligable to win. Darrick was given a brand new Apple iPod Shuffle.
BookMaid is also planning to attend the 2009 Imagine RIT festival.
BookMaid Supporters Chalk Campus
November 8th, 2007
Last night, a dozen or so BookMaid supporters conquered the residential side of Rochester Institute of Technology with chalk.
We wrote clever advertisements all over, such as:
“She’s on campus…and she’s HOT!”
“Book prices are rising 6% per year. Use BookMaid.com”
“Sexy bookmaid seeks attractive people into saving money on books”
“Cheap books have never been this sexy”
Thanks to everyone who helped out! It was a great success and the site traffic spiked!
RIT to Grant BookMaid Royalty-Free License to RIT’s Trade Name
July 16th, 2007RIT’s new president, William Destler, has reviewed BookMaid.com and the legal issues regarding it. He’s decided to turn around this situation. He asked Mary Beth Cooper to call me (Dan Leveille). We discussed the following:
- Robert Colon (Cheif Legal Officer) will not file the $1,500 - $5,000 complaint against Ritbook.com.
- BookMaid.com will be granted a royalty-free license to the RIT trade name for the 2007-2008 academic year. This license is for advertising and for use on BookMaid.com, specifically to inform about the name change.
- I will be able to redirect Ritbook.com to BookMaid.com for the 2007-2008 academic year.
- Robert Colon, who has neglected to answer many of the questions I asked, will email me about my concerns.
RITBook Closes, BookMaid Revealed
July 1st, 2007
Ritbook.com has officially closed.
BookMaid.com has been revealed.
Bookmaid will be an exciting new website very similar to Ritbook - the same general idea with more features and a sexy new look.
The site is planned to be open this Fall.
My Response to RIT Filing an ICANN Complaint
June 18th, 2007My response to RIT filing an expensive ICANN complaint
| From: | Dan Leveille <drl4193@rit.edu> |
| To: | Bobby Colon <racgla@rit.edu> |
| Cc: | Mary Beth Cooper <mbcvsa@rit.edu>, William Destler <bill.destler@rit.edu> |
| Date: | Jun 18, 2007 8:27 PM |
| Subject: | Re: Meeting |
Mr. Colon,
To start off, I would like to clarify that I am carbon copying this email to Mary Beth Cooper because she was originally supposed to be carbon copied into any emails between you and I, which you failed to do. I want to ensure that Dr. Cooper is aware of everything between us, because, to my knowledge, you were the one who made the decision to send the original (inappropriate) cease and desist letter to me. I also carbon copied Dr. Destler into this email, because I feel this is an important matter of his concern.
Mr. Colon, I am very upset that you will file a complaint with ICANN. I understand that the pricing for a UDRP complaint is around $1500 to $5000. (Our tuition dollars at work!) This is a senseless action for RIT to do. I’m sure the RIT community will be outraged if you decide to take this action. I can assure you that if this is your decision, the media will love this story. I’ve been on WHAM 13 News once about this issue, and the reporter wants me to keep him updated. RIT’s Reporter magazine is also interested in writing articles in addition to the two they have already written.
I can be assured that once ICANN opens this case, it will be quickly terminated, seeing how foolish it is. Because there is no trademark infringement remotely involved, I will be extending the registration of www.ritbook.com again this December, so that I can continue its sole purpose to redirect potential customers to the new site, bookmaid.com. As we discussed, this new site will be clearly unaffiliated with RIT. RIT’s paying thousands of dollars to prevent this redirection?
Mr Colon, I emailed Mary Beth Cooper on June 13, 2007 4:27 PM. She forwarded this email to you, yet you have neglected to address any of my concerns, and instead threatening to file a proceeding against me. I suggest that as a representative of RIT, you should take the time to address my concerns. Unfortunately, you are the only individual able to address legal affairs.
I am looking forward to an email from you regarding the matters I raised. That email can be found threaded below in the conversation.
Sincerely,
Dan Leveille
RIT To File An Expensive Complaint With ICANN
June 15th, 2007Well, RIT has decided that they will be filing a complaint with ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers). This will cost RIT between $1500 and $5000 - our tuition dollars at work! Here’s the letter I recieved:
| From: | Bobby Colon <racgla@rit.edu> |
| To: | Dan Leveille <drl4193@rit.edu> |
| Date: | Jun 15, 2007 11:24 AM |
| Subject: | Re: Meeting |
Dan
I’m sorry that we were not able to resolve the trademark infringement issue involving your use of the domain name www.ritbook.com. I continue to believe that RIT’s last proposal for resolution was fair and generous.
Unfortunately, you did not agree.
As a result of our inability to amicably resolve this matter, I have been authorized to commence a proceeding under the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers’ (”ICANN”) Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (”Policy”). The Policy can be found on the ICANN website, www.icann.org/dndr/udrp/policy.htm. I expect the proceeding to be filed during the first week in July, 2007 and will provide you with a courtesy copy of the complaint prior to filing.
Until such time as the complaint has been filed, RIT’s final offer for resolution of this matter is still on the table:
- You will be allowed to use the domain name www.ritbook.com until your registration expires on December 7, 2007.
- Your use of the domain name will be solely for the purpose of redirecting your customers to a new website, bookmaid.com.
- You will not be allowed to use the domain name, www.ritbook.com, in any advertising, but can display on your new website, bookmaid.com, that it was formerly known as www.ritbook.com until December 7, 2007.
- You will continue to abide by the prior changes made to your website including changes in color and a clear unambiguous statement that bookmaid.com is not affiliated with the Rochester Institute of Technology.
- If you have any questions please let me know. If you think a further meeting on this issue would help I would be more than happy to meet with you prior to the date of the filing of the ICANN complaint.
Bobby Colon, Esq.
Chief Legal Officer
RITBook.com’s Reply to Rochester Institute of Technology’s “Final Demands”
June 4th, 2007I replied to RIT’s “Final Demands,” and sent it to Mary Beth Cooper, Vice President of Student Affairs at RIT emailed me and asked what my thoughts were on the “Final Demands.” Here is my reply:
| From: | Dan Leveille <drl4193@rit.edu> |
| To: | Mary Beth Cooper <mbcvsa@rit.edu> |
| Date: | Jun 4, 2007 1:27 AM |
| Subject: | Re: Meeting |
Just to recap, the demands asked of me are:
- I am only allowed to use ritbook.com until registration expires or December 31, 2007; whichever is earlier.
- I can use of ritbook.com solely for the purpose of redirecting users to the new website, which I need to have in place by June 30, 2007
- I have to tell RIT what domain I am registering before I register it, so that “I won’t infringe again”.
- I cannot use ritbook.com in any advertising.
First off, my new domain is www.bookmaid.com and I demand that this name not be disclosed to anyone other than you, Robert Colón, and Dr. Simone.
Robert Colón’s email states that I cannot use ritbook.com in any advertising, which I’m assuming means that I cannot advertise ritbook.com. Because of course it would be unreasonable to restrict me from advertising the new site and saying “formerly ritbook.com”.
Mr. Colón states that I am only allowed to use ritbook.com until registration expires or December 31, 2007, whichever is earlier. This is one request on Mr. Colón’s behalf that I cannot comply with. My business, like any other, cannot afford to lose potential customers. There are hundreds of links and media on the web with the url “ritbook.com.” Once an individual hears this name and decides to visit the URL, if I do not have it registered, he will be faced with a page that says “The page cannot be displayed” or “Server not found.” This is something I cannot let happen. RIT’s trades are not losing authenticity. There is absolutely no reason why RIT should demand I do this, and thus I am not going to comply with this demand.
Dan Leveille
Rochester Institute of Technology Gives RITBook.com “Final Demands”
May 22nd, 2007RIT’s “Final Demands”
The Chief Legal Officer has finally contacted me (10 days later then they said they would). He says these are the terms I must comply to:
- I am only allowed to use ritbook.com until registration expires or December 31, 2007; Whichever is earlier. Registration ends December 7, 2007.
- I can use of ritbook.com solely for the purpose of redirecting users to the new website, which I need to have in place by June 30, 2007
- I have to tell them what domain I am registering before I register it, so that “I won’t infringe again”.
- I cannot use ritbook.com in any advertising.
I have no problem with “demands” #2 and #3, but it’s #1 and mostly #4 that I’m not going to comply with. I did agree with them to changing the name - I registered a new domain 2 days ago; it’s name will not be publicly disclosed yet.
