Ticketmaster v. Microsoft 

Microsoft’s Seattle Sidewalk, one of a growing number of web-based city guides, provided links to Ticketmaster to help users get more information about live local events. Ticketmaster sued Microsoft in the U.S. district court in Los Angeles in late April 1997, arguing that Microsoft is “feathering its nest at Ticketmaster’s expense” by offering the links without Ticketmaster’s permission. In particular, the suit alleges that the links are an impermissible use of Ticketmaster’s trademark and that Microsoft is using the Ticketmaster content as a selling point to generate ad revenue for Sidewalk. Microsoft contends that posting links to a site is fundamental to the operation of the web. As the lawsuit works its way through court, Ticketmaster has blockaded Sidewalk from directly linking to its site. Microsoft has responded by routing traffic through go-between sites. This case could provide one of the first decisions on whether it is legal to link between commercial sites without permission.

More Information

Ticketmaster v. Microsoft Complaint