LinkedIn tries to put legal leash on new British bondage fetish website KinkedIn
Dominatrix LadyBossUK set up KinkedIn with a pal to give fetish fans a safe place to find fellow enthusiasts - but it is now facing legal action from LinkedIn
TECH giant LinkedIn has put a legal leash on a British fetish website called KinkedIn.
Dominatrix LadyBossUK set up KinedIn with a pal as a social network for Brits into BDSM - bondage, discipline, sadism and masochism.
But lawyers for LinkedIn told her the name was “derogatory” and launched a legal objection when she tried to register the trademark in the UK.
LadybossUK, 50, from London, told The Sun: “It's corporate bullying.
“They have 50 million users I've got 400. I'm no threat to them.
“They can afford an army of lawyers and I have to form my own defence.
“I'm trying to do something creative and make a living and a corporation is coming down on me. It's ridiculous.
“I told the lawyer to try the site – it might chill him out.”
LadybossUK became a dominatrix four years ago and charges £150 for an hour. She never has sex with her clients.
She set up KinkedIn with a friend in August to give fetishists a safe place to find fellow enthusiasts and the website has members from all over the world.
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The mum-of-three said: “Maybe LinkedIn is launching their own fetish website.
“They'd do it brilliantly, they should give me a call.”
She added: “Any Kinky IPO (Intellectual Property Office) lawyers out there that can give us some pro boner - sorry, pro bono - help, feel free to get in touch.”
The professional dominatrix claims to have attempted to contact LinkedIn’s legal team to negotiate a compromise but has been unsuccessful.
A LinkedIn spokesman told the Sun: “‘We’re unable to comment on an ongoing legal matter."
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