Gnutella mired in chocolate spread injunction

Napster rival Gnutella has been forced to remove its German site over legal wranglings with confectioner Ferrero - the company behind the Nutella chocolate spread.

Ferrero won a temporary injunction in the Cologne superior court, claiming its trademarked brand would be inextricably and detrimentally linked by name to the file-sharing site, which most famously distributes copyright protected music. Under the injunction, a mandatory fine of up to $235,000 will be levied at the Gnutella.de domain owner. Gnutella declined the opportunity to contest the injunction, citing "menacingly high" legal costs on its website. The injunction will be in place until 3 March 2001.