Do I suck? A picture says a thousand words.
This page was created to warn of the dangers of cybersquatting.
What is cybersquatting?
Cybersquatting can take on a number of forms. Wikipedia defines cybersquatting as “registering…or using a domain name with bad faith intent to profit from the goodwill of a trademark belonging to someone else.”
- If potential clients or customers were to mistype or misspell a name ever so slightly, traffic intended for a particular business could be redirected with unintended or confusing results for the seeker. This is a form of cybersquatting known as typosquatting. Another tactic of cybersquatters includes buying up web domains for which one has no legitimate right with the intent to resell them at a profit to another.
Registering domain names with common misspellings similar to the one currently utilize in all forms (.com, .org, .biz, et cetera) can be an ounce of prevention–as opposed to the pound of cure offered by legal proceedings. The fact is, legal fees can feel like a pound of flesh. The cost of reserving a domain name is relatively cheap insurance. While you’re at it, register your personal name as a domain name to keep it safely in your hands so that it cannot be misused by a competitor.
Additional Publications:
For more information, read my article published in the National Court Reporters Association’s Journal of Court Reporting.
“Lisa’s experience was a nightmare for any business owner,” reports Donna Kanabay, RMR, RPR, CRR, in a recent article published by the Florida Court Reporters Association. Click here to read the full article from the FCROnline publication.
Litigation news:
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Victory
Federal Suit Filed (Complaint)
Memorandum Opinion and Order Denying Kentuckiana Reporters’ Motion for Summary Judgment