jonathanive.com worth an iPod?

Bloomberg is reporting that Apple and Jonathan Ive have lost their battle to win www.jonathanive.com (and three other sites based on the name) from a UK fan of the Apple designer.

“Ive, 42, filed a complaint with the World Intellectual Property Organization, or WIPO, to block Harry Jones of London, a self-described Ive fan, from using domain names including jonathanive.com and jonyive.com. The Geneva-based agency rejected Ive’s claim, saying his name isn’t commercialized”

The most interesting thing about this story is that Apple claims to have offered Jones $10,000 in return for the domains. According to Apple he then demanded $400,000. Jones, however, has a different story. He claims he was only offered an iPod and then a MacBook.

An iPod or a MacBook? Apple could afford so give him both surely? I personally would have asked for one of everything from the Apple Store…

Jones has posted a reply to all the news interest on the site which you can reach here and here is a quote from his public letter:

“I would be happy to reach an amicable solution with Jonathan Ive. I have told his lawyers this and that I would be pleased to discuss this matter with him in person and to try any process that would allow an amicable settlement of this matter (e.g. mediation). I have received no response to this request so far.”

We think that Apple should really cough up if they want the domain. Come on Apple, you’ve got enough cash in the bank…