The internet domain name ryanaircampaign.org can remain the property of a single disgruntled passenger, one Michael Coulston of London, following arbitration by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), a UN agency, just before Christmas.
Having already stopped Mr Coulson offering ryanair.org.uk the Dublin-based airline complained to WIPO, whose headquarters are in Geneva.
The ruling was emphatic if somewhat complicated and in legal jargon. Essentially it says that Mr Coulson did not use the name in bad faith and that the title is very clear in its description.
The internet site itself states its objectives: ”Ryanair and similar companies which concentrate on booking via the internet have made air travel across Europe available to many people who could not previously have afforded it. But there is an element of Russian Roulette. There is a good chance that you will get very cheaply to where you want to go with no problems. But a proportion of passengers can find themselves in a situation where they are left helpless and/or have to pay a lot of money. Ryanair is often solely in control of the factors that can create such a situation.”