Microsoft Sues Cybersquatters
Microsoft has filed two lawsuits against cybersquatters as part of its new offensive against those who buy misspelled or misleading domain names to serve ads on them. The two lawsuits target four individuals who Microsoft claims have violated state and federal laws and profited from domain names that violate Microsoft trademarks.
In the first lawsuit, Microsoft says that Jason Cox, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Daniel Goggins, of Provo, Utah, and John Jonas, of Springville, Utah have registered 324 domain names against Microsoft trademarks. In the second case, Microsoft says that Dan Brown of Long Beach, California registered 85 domain names against Microsoft trademarks. All are alleged violations of the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act of 1999, which can result in up to $100,000 in damages.
Microsoft’s enforcement campaign is headed by attorney Aaron Kornblum. “Microsoft has witnessed a virtual land rush for Internet domain names with the goal of driving traffic for profit,” said Kornblum in a statement. “Placing a high profile or pop culture trademark in your domain name is a tempting but illegal way to generate pay-per-click revenue.”
Microsoft is also trying to reveal the identity of cybersquatters who hide behind privacy protection services. Microsoft will file John Doe lawsuits against them and intends to issue subpoenas to domain name registrars to bring defendants out into the open. Microsoft will also be cracking down on the auction and resale of trademarked domain names.
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If these domains indeed infringe on Microsoft’s trademarks, how come MS did not register these names in the first place?
These companies never register this stuff them selves. Just recently I got a C&D from Victoria’s Secret because I had a domain with “VS” in it. I had to give them the domain or they would take me to court.
If these companies were smart they would just buy all of the domains they want. But they think its just easier to just strong arm people out of them after they are paid for. But I guess thats actually smarter than buying them.. we lose.
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