Sprinkler Warehouse, Inc., Appellant, vs. Systematic Rain, Inc., d/b/a GPLAWN.com, et al., Respondents., 859 N.W.2d 527

Summary

HOLDINGS: [1]-Domain names are a form of property and, despite the fact that a domain name may be categorized both as property and as a contract for services, a domain name nevertheless qualifies as property subject to garnishment under Minn. Stat. § 571.73; [2]-Copyright-protected portions of a website that belong to a judgment debtor can be considered the judgment debtor's property for the purpose of Minn. Stat. § 571.73 and are subject to garnishment; [3]-A judgment creditor may reach the value of a domain name and of copyright-protected property in a website by requesting that the district court appoint a receiver and compel the garnishee to transfer ownership of the property to the receiver for sale; the receiver shall sell the website as a whole, subject to any nontransferable licenses, for its intellectual-property value.