A legal battle is underway over ownership of the website domain name SPCA.com.
The site appears to have links to animal care, adoptions, and money donations, but the Montreal SPCA claims its former executive director, Pierre Barnoti, has illegally been using it for his own personal benefit for years.
The website collects donations for an organization called International SPCA, but the Montreal SPCA says not only does it own the web address, but it also alleges none of the money raised through SPCA.com has ever gone any Canadian organization.
Barnoti, who is suing the SPCA for wrongful dismissal, was in court Monday to face a lawsuit from the SPCA over the right to the domain.
"SPCA was the owner of SPCA.com - a domain name that's short and easy to remember - that's worth lots of money, as far as we think," said Montreal SPCA treasurer Pierre Lessard. "We lost the use of that domain name, and we just want to recuperate its use."
Barnoti claims the former board of directors gave him the right to use the domain name, but he won't divulge how much money the site has made, or is making.
"It's in hands of the judge now. When judge (makes a) decision, I will be able to comment to media," Barnoti told CTV's Annie DeMelt at the courthouse Monday.
Tech expert Elias Makos said sites like SPCA.com can be deceiving.
"You type in SPCA.com, and you'll be redirected to the SPCA International website. It's a good-looking website, with a big, large, donation button, so its not surprising to get people giving money to SPCA.com," he said.
The court case to determine the ownership of the site will continue for several days.
Pierre Barnoti is suing CTV Montreal for defamation relating to investigative reports that raised questions about his former management at the SPCA. That case has not been resolved.
