Eversheds unveils alliance set to fight brand misuse

City firm Eversheds has unveiled a 'broad strategic alliance' with Web surveillance company MarkMonitor to provide BRANDCOMPLETE, an on-line service which combines legal advice with Internet search capabilities to identify brand and domain name misuse.Available through Eversheds' Web site, it offers three levels of service.

The first, 'Linkmonitor', which is free, allows businesses to identify up to 100 Web sites which may be linking to their site without their authorisation or knowledge, including sites which may contain pornography or other objectionable material.The second, 'Sample Service', enables businesses to use the on-line domain name search facility for 100.

This establishes whether a third party has registered a domain name which is the same or similar to their own.

If no infringement is found, no fee is charged.The third level is the full service, which for a fixed fee entails searching the Web for domain names which are the same or similar to the client's (called 'DomainSmart'), identifying brand misuse in Web sites (called 'Netmonitor'), and providing a detailed letter of advice based on the results.MarkMonitor has the capability to monitor the use of brand names in hidden and visible text on Web sites, search engines, links, banner advertisements, message boards and domain names.Eversheds partner Anthony Gold, the head of intellectual property, said: 'Ensuring that brands can be effectively developed and protected on the Internet is fast becoming a key challenge for most businesses.'LINKS: www.eversheds.com