RussiaToday.com Challenges Putin-Backed 'Russia Today TV' Service to Drop Name Prior to G8 Summit in St. Petersburg, Russia

RussiaToday.com Challenges Putin-Backed 'Russia Today TV' Service to Drop Name Prior to G8 Summit in St. Petersburg, Russia

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- RussiaToday.com, established in 1996, is requesting that the newly launched Ria Novosti service "Russia Today TV" change its name prior to the G8 Summit to be held in St. Petersburg, Russia in July 2006. See: http://www.russiatoday.com/letter_feb28.jpg

Ria Novosti started Russia Today TV in late 2005, approximately nine years after the launch of RussiaToday.com by the Washington, DC based IPD Group, Inc.

According to David Rothstein, CEO of the IPD Group, Inc., the founder and owner of RussiaToday.com, "Ria Novosti had many choices to make when it came to choosing a name for their new service. The idea that they would try to adopt the name of a leading English language website covering Russia is just simply irresponsible."

The trade name battle between RIA Novosti and the IPD Group, Inc. over "Russia Today" could produce some embarrassment for the Russian Federation in the run-up to the July G8 Summit.

Mr. Rothstein adds that "we are dramatically expanding the scope of our RussiaToday.com information services this year and it's undeniable that Ria Novosti is creating some consumer confusion in our market. I think they will eventually have to rename their service to avoid confusion when they try to work with large international media companies such as CNN or the BBC."

The Russia Today TV vs Russia Today.com conflict accelerated in January 2006 when the IPD Group, Inc. was asked to provide proof that it had the approval of the Russian Federation to use the name "Russia". See: http://www.russiatoday.com/letter_jan20.jpg

About the IPD Group, Inc., http://www.ipdgroup.com/pr

The Washington, DC-based IPD Group, Inc. provides niche-focused Internet data mining and searching tools to corporations, institutions, and professional individuals. The company makes online research more convenient, rapid and affordable.

The IPD Group's media monitoring and newsletter services are designed as alternatives to high cost services such as Lexis-Nexis.

"Google or Topix.net offer a form of free news," says David Rothstein, CEO of the IPD Group. "On the other end of the spectrum, companies such as Lexis- Nexis charge thousands of dollars a year. We fit well in the niche-market data-mining space used by professionals."

The IPD Group's publications include:

-- EIN News - http://www.einnews.com/pr
-- U.S. Politics Today - http://www.uspoliticstoday.com/pr
-- EU Politics Today - http://www.eupoliticstoday.com/pr
-- Healthcare Industry Today - http://www.healthcareindustrytoday.com/pr
-- Music Industry Today - http://www.musicindustrytoday.com/pr
-- The Inbox Robot - http://www.inboxrobot.com/pr

Source: IPD Group, Inc.

CONTACT: David Rothstein of IPD Group, Inc., +1-202-318-8905,
www.ipdgroup.com/feedback.php

Web site: http://www.ipdgroup.com/
http://www.russiatoday.com/letter_feb28.jpg

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