cybersquatting
Registering others' domains
Cybersquatting is registering an internet domain name that incorporates a trademark, company name, or celebrity's name with the intent to profit by selling it to the rightful owner or exploiting their reputation.
The practice became widespread in the early days of the web, when speculators snapped up domains like mcdonalds.com before corporations understood their value.
Laws now exist to reclaim such domains, but disputes remain common.
Unauthorized use of protected marks
- bad faithIntentional deception in dealings
- cease and desistLegal order to stop
- litigationLegal dispute process
- injunctionCourt-ordered behavioral requirement
damages · settlement · jurisdiction · plaintiff · defendant · legal remedy · court order · legal precedent
Area of control
- parkingLeaving a vehicle temporarily
- registrarKeeper of official records
- registryOfficial record of entries
- web addressInternet page identifier
top-level · subdomain · redirect · hosting · expiration · renewal · transfer · availability
Second sale
- ransomPayment for captive's release
- extortionObtaining through threats
- flippingTurning over rapidly
- monetizationConverting something into revenue
speculation · premium pricing · markup · auction · pay-per-click · revenue · buyout · negotiation
Registered commercial identifier
- brand nameProprietary product designation
- corporate identityCompany's distinguishing visual persona
- brand protectionGuarding corporate identity assets
- reputationCollective opinion of someone
goodwill · confusion · dilution · impersonation · typosquatting · lookalike · product name · company name
Exploiting domain name mistakes
- phishingFraudulent credential harvesting
- spoofingFraudulent imitation
- misspellingIncorrect written form
- redirectSend in new direction
trademark infringement
Unauthorized use of protected marks
- bad faithIntentional deception in dealings
- cease and desistLegal order to stop
- litigationLegal dispute process
injunction · damages · settlement · jurisdiction · plaintiff · defendant · legal remedy · court order · legal precedent · arbitration
domain
Area of control
- parkingLeaving a vehicle temporarily
- registrarKeeper of official records
- registryOfficial record of entries
web address · top-level · subdomain · redirect · hosting · expiration · renewal · transfer · availability · aftermarket
resale
Second sale
monetization · speculation · premium pricing · markup · auction · pay-per-click · revenue · buyout · negotiation · valuation
trademark
Registered commercial identifier
- brand nameProprietary product designation
- corporate identityCompany's distinguishing visual persona
- brand protectionGuarding corporate identity assets
reputation · goodwill · confusion · dilution · impersonation · typosquatting · lookalike · product name · company name · naming rights
typosquatting
Exploiting domain name mistakes
- phishingFraudulent credential harvesting
- spoofingFraudulent imitation
- misspellingIncorrect written form
- business wrongsunfair competition, passing off, predatory pricing, price fixing, bid rigging
- Domain Disputestyposquatting, bad faith, arbitration, cease and desist, brand protection
- domain threatstyposquatting, pharming
- Domainsdomain registration, domain names, .com, .net, .org
- Internet GovernanceICANN, DNS, domain names, TLDs, registrars
- trademark disputesinfringement, counterfeiting, knockoffs, passing off, cease and desist
squat, cyber, squatting, squatted, squatter, squirreling, cybercrime, squatters, cybercrimes