Canadian Professor Has Cataloged Complaints Against The Airline For 20 Years

United Airlines has been granted an injunction by a Canadian court to prevent the use of its trademarks, copyright and other intellectual property on a website dedicated to complaints against the airline.

Jeremy Cooperstock, an engineering professor at McGill University in Montreal, set up the Untied.com website 20 years ago after being dissatisfied with what he called a "form letter" he received in response to one of his own complaints. Over the years, he has collected some 31,000 complaints against the airlines, and has advised readers about how to complain to, or sue the airline.

The Chicago Tribune reports that in an email United said it was "pleased with the court's decision. We have always maintained that Mr. Cooperstock should be able to voice his opinions, and our case was to protect United customers and avoid confusion by asking him to not use our intellectual property on his website and related channels."

Cooperstock said that the airline is trying to squelch criticism directed its way, and plans to appeal the court's ruling.

The court did say that Cooperstock could keep the Untied.com domain, but he does not know if he'll be allowed to continue to post passenger complaints. He said that even though he did base some of his graphics on United logos, he does not believe that anyone would mistake his website for the official United.com website.

FMI: cas-cdc-www02.cas-satj.gc.ca/portal/page/portal/fc_cf_en/Index