Alanis Morrissette to sue cybersquatter

Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morrissette, famed for her rock chick image and whingeing lyrics, is to sue the operator of a website she claims uses her name to make money - a practice known as "cybersquatting".

Morrissette is to sue Russell Smith, described as a "notorious, repeat offender cybersquatter", for his use of the domain name www.alanis.net, which her lawyers say is close to her official site, www.alanis.com.

Cybersquatting is the use of a celebrity name by an individual or entity not associated with that individual to attract traffic to the site, sell goods and services or even to try and sell the domain name on at a profit.

Smith is reported to have sold a range of items on his site, including tours of San Francisco's Alcatraz prison.

Morrissette is understood to be after an undisclosed amount of money and to have demanded that the site be shut down.

Other victims of cybersquatting include tennis-playing sisters Serena and Venus Williams, Nicole Kidman, Madonna and Morrissette's fellow-Canadian crooner, Celine Dion.