GoDaddy Can't Recuse Judge in 'Parked Pages' Suit

LOS ANGELES — A federal judge on Monday hosed down GoDaddy's effort to have a federal judge disqualified from a cybersquatting suit worth potentially millions against the company.

U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer issued an oral ruling denying the hosting company's motion to disqualify U.S. District Judge Audrey Collins from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' suit alleging it violated the federal Anti-cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act and California business codes.

Fischer in her ruling from the bench said there was no evidence that Collins is biased for the Academy because of a number of pre-trial rulings in favor of it and because her daughter is an actress who had small parts in "Deception," "The Producers" and other films.

GoDaddy, in its motion to recuse Collins, even alleged that multiple Academy officials privately refer to her as "the Academy's judge" and that most Academy cases have been funneled into her courtroom in recent years.

Fischer in her ruling Monday said GoDaddy's motion to recuse the judge was frivolous and potentially sanctionable.

The ruling is a major setback for GoDaddy, which is trying to stave off claims that it had infringed on and deliberately appropriated more than 100 of the Academy's marks with such domain names as OscarRedCarpet.com, OscarActor.com, AcademyAwards2015.com and BillyCrystal2012Oscars.com, according to an amended lawsuit filed last month.

The suit, filed at U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, seeks a restraining order over the practice of scooping up the Academy's trademarks and appropriating them through parked pages. It also seeks $100,000 in damages for every domain allegedly poached, as well as attorneys fees.

The Academy, in response to GoDaddy' s motion to toss Collins off the case, earlier called the registrar's request "meritless and insulting" and said the motion was "strategic."

"GoDaddy’s motion, which essentially alleges that nearly 20 judges in the [U.S. District Court in Los Angeles] were 'complicit' in transferring such cases to Judge Collins, is simply outrageous," the Academy said.

The suit narrowly focuses on how GoDaddy registers and monetizes parked domains through its Parked Page Service and Cash Parking Program.

GoDaddy parks registrants' pages and places advertisements on web pages with Parked Page Service; Go Daddy is granted the right to collect and retain all revenue generated by the advertising.

The Cash Parking Program service permits domain registrants to pay a fee to allow GoDaddy through its advertising partner to place ads on the registrant's web page. The revenue generated through that advertising is then split between the registrant, GoDaddy and GoDaddy's advertising partner.

Concurrent with Fischer's ruling Monday, the Academy's attorneys also filed an opposition to a GoDaddy motion to dismiss and motion to strike some domain names from the suit.

In the filing, the Academy emphasized that the suit could spur additional litigation against Scottsdale, Ariz.-based GoDaddy.

Additional litigation could include claims possibly waged by online adult companies that find their marks being similarly poached and exploited.

"The instant action, if successful, will certainly result in the enforcement of an important right affect the public interest," the Academy said in its motion. "GoDaddy purports to be the world’s leading ICANN-accredited domain name registrar for .com, .net, .org, .info, .biz and .us domain extensions,  with over 40 million domain names under its management — more names than any other registrar.

"Further, GoDaddy and its affiliates offer their services in interstate commerce, affecting people all over the U.S. In turn, GoDaddy is harming trademark holders nationwide by monetizing domains utilizing their marks.

"If plaintiff is successful, this action will establish enforceable trademark rights of trademark owners nationwide as it related to GoDaddy’s parked page programs."

GoDaddy officials did not respond to XBIZ for comment on Tuesday.

View the Academy's opposition to GoDaddy's motion to dismiss

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

UPDATED: Supreme Court Rules Against Adult Industry in Pivotal Texas AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday issued its decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, striking a blow against the online adult industry by ruling in support of Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

North Carolina Passes Extreme Bill Targeting Adult Sites

The North Carolina state legislature this week ratified a bill that would impose new regulations that industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

Supreme Court Ruling Due Friday in FSC v. Paxton AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court will rule on Friday in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, the adult industry trade association's challenge to Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

Ofcom: More Porn Providers Commit to Age Assurance Measures

A number of adult content providers operating in the U.K. have confirmed that they plan to introduce age checks in compliance with the Online Safety Act by the July 25 deadline, according to U.K. media regulator Ofcom.

Aylo Says It Will Comply With UK Age Assurance Requirements

Tech and media company Aylo, which owns various adult properties including Pornhub, YouPorn and Redtube, plans to introduce age assurance methods in the United Kingdom that satisfy government rules under the Online Safety Act, the company has announced.

Kyrgyzstan Parliament Approves Measure Outlawing Internet Porn

The Supreme Council of Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday passed legislation outlawing online adult content in the country.

Trial Set for Lawsuit by U Wisconsin Professor Fired Over Adult Content

A trial date of June 22, 2026, has been set for the civil lawsuit filed by veteran communications professor Joe Gow against the University of Wisconsin board of regents, which fired him for creating and appearing in adult content.

New UK Task Force Meets to Target Adult Content

The architect of an influential report that recommended banning adult content deemed “degrading, violent and misogynistic” has convened an “Independent Pornography Review task force” aimed at translating that report’s findings into action in the U.K.

11:11 Creations Launches Affiliate Program

11:11 Creations principal Alicia Silver has launched 11:11 Cash for creators and affiliates.

Pineapple Support, Pornhub to Host 'Self Love' Support Group

Pineapple Support and Pornhub are hosting a free online support group for performers to develop self-love.

Show More