Business Watch

Internet users, both personal and corporate, obtain addresses that must end in .com, .org, or .net. However, according to Adobe Magazine, there has been a battle over who gets the rights to certain address designations. Some heady entrepreneurs have registered corporate-like addresses, while major corporations are hoarding common names for every type of product imaginable.

For instance, several people have registered the names hertz.com, avon.com and mcdonalds.com – all with hopes of selling the addresses back to the corporation of the same name. Most do not win, and are usually threatened with trademark lawsuits. Last year, one company that is a registrar of international top-level Internet domains began prohibiting registering federally trademarked names except by the trademark holder, and another company has formed simply to register Internet addresses. Also, the U.S. Congress further protected trademark names as Internet domains by passing the Trademark Dilution act of 1995.

On the flip side, corporations are being accused of hoarding common names for use as Internet addresses. For example, Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati, has secured the addresses luvs.com, puffs.com, spicnspan.com, along with stains.com, underarms.com, and romantic.com.

But the name game may soon be sent into another free-for-all. More than 50 cyberspace companies are expected to introduce up to 150 new three-letter endings for Internet domains, creating countless additional address configurations.

VIEWING A WEB SITE COULD BE AS EASY AS PICKING UP THE TV REMOTE CONTROL

Many businesses, including those involved in the recycling industry, have established addresses on the Internet. According to a recent Recycling Today survey, about 20 percent of responding recycling companies currently have a website, and about 55 percent have access to the Internet. In addition, 70 percent say that the Internet so far has been either very useful or somewhat useful to their business. While these figures are sure to grow for this particular industry segment, new technology is on the horizon that will make access to the Internet even easier. Hybrid television/personal computers may soon be available that will allow users to surf the World Wide Web with a remote control. In addition, TV add-ons will also be available that will convert your TV set into a Internet cruiser – just point and click.

IS A RUSSIAN ECONOMIC BOOM IMMINENT?

Despite continuing political uncertainty, the growing influence of organized crime, and lingering "old world" attitudes, Russia is poised for an economic growth spurt, according to the authors of The Coming Russian Boom.

The book – written by Richard Layard, a professor at the London School of Economics, and John Parker, The Economist’s former correspondent to Moscow – serves as a guide for any executive wanting to learn more about the transformation that has taken place in Russia.

The authors contend that since the Russian government liberalized the economy in 1992, more than 70 percent of businesses went to private ownership. Although the country fought with initial bouts of double digit inflation, prices have settled and inflation is currently in check. Also, young entrepreneurs are becoming learned in new world marketing and manufacturing techniques, and most see their country as part of the European community, not a stand-alone authoritarian republic.

Based on all the economic vital signs, the authors predict a 5 percent overall annual growth rate for the Russian economy through the turn of the century. Much of this growth is expected to come from foreign investments.