LIVECAST files suit against CNNSI.com and the NFL

LOS ALTOS, Calif. -- Livecast Inc., a California-based company that creates tools and services for live Internet events, has filed a lawsuit against CNN/Sports Illustrated, and the National Football League and NFL Enterprises alleging trademark infringement by all defendants, and unfair competition by CNN/SI. The lawsuit was filed in Federal Court, in the Northern District of California, and has been assigned Case Number C-00 20779 JF. The case has been assigned to the Honorable Jeremy Fogel.

"We own the trademark - period - and this is quite simply a case of trademark infringement," said Chris Andrews, president and CEO of Livecast Inc. "Why a company of the stature of CNNSI.com or Time Warner would hijack our trademark without our permission is incomprehensible to me. The defendants left us no choice but to pursue this legal action to protect what is rightfully ours."

Livecast Inc. is the exclusive licensee of the Registered Trademark for Livecast, registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office, Registration No. 2,151,819. Chris Andrews first used the Livecast trademark in early 1996, and filed for the trademark on August 29, 1996. In the first half of 1999, the lawsuit alleges, Andrews learned of the use of the Livecast trademark by CNNSI.com, and sent a letter to CNN on July 2, 1999. The lawsuit further alleges that CNNSI.com negotiated with Andrews over a period of months to license the trademark, and then on March 22, 2000, CNN informed the counsel for Andrews that CNNSI.com would not stop its use of the trademark, and was disputing Andrews interests in the trademark.

Livecast Inc. is located at 300 Third St., Suite 5, Los Altos, Calif. 94022. Phone (650) 559-9975. Web site is www.livecast.com