University of Oklahoma sues Dallas man over cybersquatting claim

Hugh Michael Glenn, 43, said he was using the domain name www.soonernetwork.com for legitimate purposes.

OU filed the lawsuit in Oklahoma City federal court Wednesday. The lawsuit alleges Glenn bought the domain name with the intent of selling it to OU at a profit, a process known as cybersquatting. The university is seeking an injunction barring Glenn from using any of OU's trademarks in the future.

OU also is seeking $100,000 in damages, any profits Glenn has received from the website and rights to the soonernetwork.com domain name.

According to the lawsuit, the domain is “confusingly similar” to other OU trademarks, including soonersports.com and the Oklahoma Sooner Radio Network.

The lawsuit notes that Bob Barry Sr., longtime play-by-play announcer for OU football, referred to the network simply as “the Sooner Network.”

On Monday afternoon, the website at the address soonernetwork.com appeared to be a service that connects Oklahomans with eldercare providers. According to the site, the network doesn't charge patients or family members for the service.

The site includes a form where patients may enter their contact information, but doesn't include contact information for the network.

Although he wouldn't comment on the suit itself, Glenn said he originally bought the domain to use for the network.