Established Internet Providers wish to prevent the market entry of switchplus ag

Many of the big Internet Providers in Switzerland are attempting to prevent the successful market entry of switchplus ag by all available means. The immediately enforceable injunction (superprovisorische Verfügung) they have obtained is unjustified, and SWITCH is disappointed that they have opted to take legal action rather than to engage in dialogue.

Background
Midway through August, SWITCH launched its newly-founded, wholly-owned subsidiary, switchplus ag. SWITCH is thus making a key contribution to securing its own future, since its state-regulated activity as a registry only runs until 2015. This means that the jobs of those working in this sector are at very much at risk.
A large number of SWITCH customers have, for many years, been wanting SWITCH to offer additional services in conjunction with domain names. SWITCH is responding to these customer wishes with switchplus and is able to offer the employees concerned longer-term job prospects in this way.

Misunderstandings cleared up – an offer made
Established Internet Providers have strongly criticised the market entry of switchplus. In the course of joint discussions, SWITCH has been able to clear up a number of misunderstandings and show that switchplus is independent of SWITCH in organisational, legal and financial terms.
SWITCH has offered the Internet Providers various options for resolving the problem. Regrettably, they have not taken up these offers and have decided to instigate legal action instead. The injunction obliges SWITCH to remove the name and link to switchplus on SWITCH's welcome page.
Over the next few weeks, SWITCH will be working with those Internet Providers who are ready to engage in discussions in a bid to find satisfactory solutions. SWITCH regards the criticism of switchplus's entry into the market as unjustified and will be defending itself against this criticism by all the means available to it.