Internet Porn Sites Target Children Using TrustworthyNames.

READING, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 13, 1998--As the internet grows in popularity, so do the ways in which website pornographers lure in unsuspecting children.

The latest is the use of non-sexual keywords that target the interests of children and young adults.

"It is very insidious,"

says David Blaise, president of the 800-Trekker science fiction catalog, "when someone uses a well-known, trustworthy name to draw kids into a sexually explicit website." The Trekker catalog sells licensed products from Star Trek, The X-Files, Star Wars and other classic and popular science fiction TV shows and movies.

The company has filed a suit in federal court asking U.S. District Judge Bruce W. Kauffman to shut down a porn site that allegedly used the Trekker name illegally.

"800-Trekker is extremely popular among children and young adults because of our merchandise mix," says Blaise. "The use of our name to attract kids is despicable, misleading and completely unfair."

The three defendants, Axis Web Development, 1Globe WebSite Development and Paul DiCecco, all of Cranston, R.I. are being sued for trademark dilution, unfair competition and false designation and origin.

The suit states that the reputation of 800-Trekker is being tarnished, since members of the general public, including children, "may conclude in error that such web site is sponsored by, authorized by, connected to, or otherwise provided with the approval of 800 Trekker."

But 800-Trekker is not alone. Two years ago, toy maker Hasbro, maker of the popular childrens board game Candyland, won a suit against Internet Entertainment Group when the courts ruled that IEG's candyland.com porn page was a clear case of trademark dilution.

"My concern," says Blaise, "is that children searching the web for science fiction Halloween costumes, collectibles or other legitimate sites would end up becoming victims of internet pornography."

A search of domain name registrations reveals over 200 additional sites registered to Axis, including beanebabies.com, michaeljacksonfanclub.com, twilightzones.com, and cranstonpolice.com.