An interesting letter

I received an interesting email from Snap-On Tools(You've probably heard of them) about a domain name that I bought for an idea of new a snap on fashion line of bags and accessories with snaps and interchangeable accents.

Here is what it said

Dear Pamela,

Snap-on Incorporated is the owner of the well-known trademark and trade name Snap-on. As you are no doubt aware, Snap-on is a trademark used to identify products, services, activities and events related to Snap-on Incorporated. You have registered, without Snap-on Incorporated’s permission or authorization, the domain name 'snaponfashion.com'. The Domain Name incorporates the famous Snap-on mark and suggests Snap-on Incorporated’s sponsorship or endorsement of your website.In view of Snap-on Incorporated’s rights to the trademark Snap-on, we ask that you immediately discontinue any and all use of the Domain Name.Should you require additional information or wish to further discuss this issue, please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned.


My first thought was that it was a joke and then I realized that they were serious as she started talking about legal issues in the e-mails following. Then I was contacted by their domain name management company, MarkMonitor and was basically told I needed to unlock my domain and give them authorization code. It really upsets me that big businesses like this with money can push the small businesses around and take a name that really means nothing about tools. How does fashion relate to snap-on tools, really? and how is a name like this going to benefit them? I think they would be better off with snapongear.com.
The bottom line is that I really did not agree with this, but they did what they thought they needed to do and I do not have the time to be dealing with these issues and run a business at the same time. So, I re-registered a different name which I am just as happy with. Anyone have any experience with this type of thing or would like to share your feelings about this? Please post comments if you have anything to share -