Judge Ok's GA Website Likening Wal-Mart To Holocaust

A federal judge has sided with a Georgia man whose satirical Web site likens Wal-Mart to the Holocaust.

U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten Sr. in Atlanta rejected Wal-Mart's claims that Charles Smith's Web site and satirical products violated the company's trademark. In an 87-page order, Batten said Smith's products qualified as protected noncommercial speech.

The 50-year-old computer store owner from Conyers, Ga., says Wal-Mart is "taking over the world." He set up the Walocaust Web site, and later a Wal-Qaeda Web site, to make his point.

In late 2005 and early 2006, Wal-Mart sent letters demanding that he stop. Smith sued Wal-Mart, seeking to continue marketing his satirical logos and designs, and Wal-Mart countersued.

A Wal-Mart spokeswoman says the company is considering whether to appeal the March 20 ruling.

(The Associated Press)