One of the longest-running domain disputes in the RuNet has been resolved.

Following a protracted legal battle, Forbes succeeded in acquiring the domain name forbes.ru. This domain previously belonged to Landmark VIP Service LLC. The Russian version of Forbes, the largest publishing house, was located at www.forbesrussia.ru. Since August 10, 2010, after gaining control of the domain, users have been redirected to www.forbes.ru. The domain was acquired through a settlement, which, however, was preceded by several court hearings.

The American publisher of Forbes magazine, Forbes Media LLC, at the initiative of the publisher of the Russian Forbes, Axel Springer Russia CJSC, filed a lawsuit against the owner of the forbes.ru domain back in late 2009.

In January, the Moscow Arbitration CourtawardedThe Axel Springer Russia publishing house and Forbes Media LLC were awarded the right to use the forbes.ru domain name, and the defendant was ordered to pay the plaintiff $300,000 in compensation—the largest ever awarded for the illegal use of a trademark in a domain name.

However, two months later, the Moscow Court of AppealcanceledThe previous decision of the court of first instance. At that time, the website forbes.ru advertised New Year's yacht cruises to Antarctica.

Some publications have reported that it is possible that the owners of Forbes magazine have decided to pay the previous owner for the domain name themselves.