Popular internet domain names are a hot commodity… and brands and business names are often used as internet domain names. (for example: www.coca-cola.com and www.nike.com )
Businesses often seek to register and own their business names and brands as internet domain names; however, it’s not uncommon for cybersquatters to beat them to the punch and register internet domain name out from under them. What can be done if this happens? If the domain name purchased by the cybersquatter contains a trademark owned by another party, then there a good chance that the cybersquatter will be forced to surrender the domain name. A cybersquatter can be forced to surrender a domain name if: 1) the cybersquatter who registered the name has no legitimate business interest in the name; 2) the domain name was registered in bad faith; and 3) the trademark owner’s trademark is confusingly similar to the registered domain.
If all three of these points can be proven, then the domain name can be cancelled or transferred to the trademark owner.
For more info on TRADEMARKS and Exclusive Use Rights –> http://t.co/llWyfhN; @iplegalfreebies and www.kasterlegal.com.
BY: Vanessa Kaster, Esq., LL.M.
vk@kasterlegal.com
IP Legal Freebies Blog 