Cambridge lecturer gives up online identities

A French pornography star and two of Britain's most famous authors have joined forces to claim back their internet identities from a Cambridge University philosophy lecturer.

Yesterday, the United Nations' World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) announced that Julian Barnes, Louis de Bernieres and French erotic film star turned singer Laure Sainclair had won control of internet sites registered in their names.

Mark Hogarth, a Cambridge University philosophy lecturer, registered hundreds of sites, mainly linked to famous names, a year ago. The WIPO had already ordered Mr Hogarth to hand over rights to a site registered under the name of another British writer, Jeanette Winterson.

Before Ms Winterson took Mr Hogarth to court, she approached him and asked him to voluntarily hand over the site. She asked him, "Why do you want to be me?" Apparently the lecturer made no response.

Clearly seeing the trend, Mr Hogarth handed over the domains he registered to Old Barnes Studios Ltd. The three complainants allege he is still behind the company, an allegation they say is supported by Midland Company Services Ltd, who found that all Old Barnes' mail is sent on to Mr Hogarth's address and that, as of June 20, the company had no directors.

The assistant director of the WIPO, Francis Gurry, hailed the decision as a success, saying that there must be a principle behind domain name registration.

"I can't see any reason for allowing misleading registration, the authenticity of identity on the internet is important and that's about domain names. People don't want to be misled," said Mr Gurry.

Since it began work in December 1999, the WIPO has received over 2,200 complaints about domain name registration, mainly from the rich and famous and from companies. But they have also been contacted by various national governments.

Mr Hogarth was not available for comment.