Domain name and online identity conflicts aren’t something new but Jonathan Ive’s unsuccessful attempt to gain control over… well, jonathanive.com is particularly interesting.

A judge decided that Ive’s claim over the domain name is groundless because the designer of the iMac and the iPod doesn’t seek publicity. One might wonder what kind of publicity the judge had in mind – maybe Ive should have adopted a Malawian child or at least appeared on reality shows, two activities that are undeniably related to industrial design. Yeah, that was sarcasm.

Even if you put aside the ridiculous fame-based criteria, there’s still plenty of controversy left – the “unofficial site” does not present someone else, accidentally named (and more famous than) Jonathan Ive, it is about the designer himself and his own achievements. Apparently, that fact doesn’t matter at all because in today’s world it is not enough when other people recognize you as famous, you have to be brave and state that yourself. Explicitly, shamelessly, aggressively.

Your mother may say it’s bad taste but it may prove useful in court. There, lesson learned!