February 7, 2007 16:58

Keith Urban files suit over website name

Nicole Kidman's husband takes on New Jersey painter

Australian country singer Keith Urban has filed a suit against a New Jersey painter also called Keith Urban, claiming the painter’s use of the domain Keithurban.com is misleading.

The painter’s website says “Welcome to the wonderful world of Keith Urban” and goes on to say “To those who don't know, oil painting is one of my hobbies.”

Urban claims that the website is misleading and implies that it belongs to him.

The Associate Press reports that Urban “accuses the painter of federal trademark infringement, dilution of a federally registered trademark, federal unfair competition and violation of the anti-cybersquatting consumer protection act and the Tennessee consumer protection act”.

Urban is attempting to have the domain name transferred to him, as well as preventing the misleading use of the name Keith Urban.

The Nashville-based singer married actress Nicole Kidman in Australia last year. He is currently gearing up for a tour to support his new album ’Love, Pain And The Whole Crazy Thing’ following a spell in rehab.

--By our New York staff.
[url="/about"]Find out more about NME.[/url]