Microsoft vs cyber-squats
p2pnet.net News:- Bill and the Boyz have gone to war against cyber- and typo-squatters with domain names such as ‘freewindowslive.com’ and ‘msnblog.com’.
“In the past, cybersquatters would often try to extract money by selling the domains to the companies whose names and trademarks were being mimicked,” says The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. “But Microsoft says many cybersquatters are now making money by displaying ads to the people who visit the sites.”
Microsoft filed three lawsuits this week, “calling the actions the first steps in a broader initiative to combat the practice,” says the story.
The Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA) of 199 allows for damages up to $100,000 against anyone, “who, with a bad-faith intent to profit, ‘registers, traffics in, or uses a domain name that is identical to, confusingly similar or dilutive of’ an existing trademark,” says The Register.
Two lawsuits feature federal law claims under ACPA and the Lanham Act, as well as state law claims for unfair competition, says the story, going on:
“Jason Cox, of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Daniel Goggins, of Provo, Utah, and John Jonas, of Springville, Utah are alleged to have registered 324 domain names targeting Microsoft in a lawsuit filed in Utah. In a separate lawsuit (filed in California), Dan Brown, of Long Beach, Calif, is alleged to have registered 85 domain names that directly target Microsoft via a firm called Partner IV Holdings.”
Microsoft is also, “seeking to unmask alleged typosquatters who have used privacy protection services to conceal their identities,” says The Register. “Microsoft plans to issue subpoenas to multiple registrars of domain names infringing on Microsoft’s intellectual property. The company also vowed to clamp down on online auctions of infringing domain names.”
Also See:
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer – Microsoft combats ‘cybersquatting’, August 23, 2006
The Register – MS takes up legal cudgels against typosquatters, August 23, 2006
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