L&H claims that Bautil registered the domain name in April 1998 after he started working at the company. It is claimed that, on discovery of the problem, Bautil wrote to L&H saying, “I’d be happy to sell you the domain name, make me an offer.”
Bautil launched his own, California-based, internet translation service after he stopped working for L&H in 1999 and, it is claimed, has redirected internet traffic from L&H’s iTranslator site to this new company. L&H claims that this site:
“leads L&H customers and prospective customers into believing that the services and links provided on [Bautil’s] web site are sponsored by, or otherwise affiliated with, L&H.”
L&H, which recently filed for bankruptcy, has faced other troubles within the ranks when its co-founders and a former board member were charged with fraud and stock manipulation.
Editor's note: Marc Bautil has asked us to point out that this lawsuit has since been settled.