BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) – The Mashantucket Pequots are arguing in federal court that a Massachusetts man’s Web site is confusing Internet surfers looking for the home page of the tribe’s Foxwoods Resort Casino.

U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall on Monday heard the tribe’s case against Raymond Redican Jr., who is accused of violating a trademark with his site, http://www.foxwood.com. The casino’s Web site is http://www.foxwoods.com.

The judge did not issue a decision.

Redican, of Dracut, is refusing to give up the domain name without compensation. Wade Blackmon, an attorney for the tribe, said Redican once asked for nearly $20 million for the site’s name.

Robert J. DeSalvio, executive vice president of marketing for the casino, testified that Internet commerce has become important for Foxwoods, as more customers use the Web to buy show tickets, make hotel and restaurant reservations and read about the casino.

Foxwoods’ Web page had 12 million hits in July, DeSalvio said. About 18 percent of hotel rooms are booked online, he said.

“It’s the way of the world that people are going to be online,” DeSalvio said.

He said Redican’s site is confusing because it has references to advertising, directions, employment and entertainment at other places that contain “Foxwood” in their names.

Redican registered his Web site in 1997. He has said that he is a small-business owner trying to promote advertisers in exchange for commissions.

Public Defender Stephen McNamara, Redican’s lawyer, showed the court printouts from several Web sites that contained the word “Foxwoods,” The Day of New London reported.

AP-ES-08-30-05 0254EDT