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Businesses that rely on their trademarks to bring customers to their websites are often distressed when they discover that a cybersquatter has purchased a domain name to profit off your business. While other explanations can exist for purchased domain names that are similar to your own business domain name or to your trademark, in many cases the problem is cybersquatting or typosquatting. It is critical for your business to understand steps it can take to protect itself from cybersquatting and to manage typosquatting protection, and it is just as important to understand your legal options when cybersquatting does occur. An experienced domain name attorney can help. 

Protecting Your Business From Cybersquatting

Protecting your business from cybersquatters and typosquatters is extremely important, and it can save you time and money related to a future UDRP complaint or UDRP proceedings. What can you do to protect your business from cybersquatters? According to an article in Computer World, there are a number of steps that companies can take in order to shield themselves from cybersquatters, including the following:

• Create a cybersquatting policy that includes surveillance plans so that you can learn about any potential cybersquatting as quickly as possible;
• Consider a monitoring service that allows you to keep track of newly registered domain names, and newly purchased domains, which could be linked to cybersquatting efforts;
• Register domains yourself that could be used or hijacked by cybersquatters or typosquatters, recognizing that registering a domain name often costs very little money per year;
• Work with a domain name lawyer to ensure that your trademark is properly registered and recognized; and
• Learn about your options if you need to pursue a cybersquatter or typosquatter.

Pursuing a Cybersquatter or Typosquatter Legally 

Generally speaking, if another person or entity is cybersquatting or typosquatting and you want to pursue them legally, you have two options — you can file a lawsuit with assistance from a domain attorney, or you can file a Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) complaint, for which you should always have an experienced UDRP lawyer to assist you.

If you want to file a lawsuit, you may have one of two options: filing a lawsuit under the federal Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act or the Lanham Act, both of which can take more time and tend to be more expensive than filing a UDRP complaint. If you want to have your case resolved more quickly and you are seeking to have the site taken down, a UDRP complaint can be a good option. It typically takes about two months from start to finish, and the UDRP cost is significantly less than a lawsuit. A cybersquatting lawyer at our firm can discuss your options with you. 

Contact a Domain Lawyer Today for Assistance

If you have questions about preventing cybersquatting or typosquatting, or if you need assistance moving forward with a lawsuit or UDRP complaint, a dedicated cybersquatting lawyer at our firm can help you. We routinely assist clients with cybersquatting lawsuits and UDRP complaints, and we can provide you with detailed information about domain name issues. Contact ESQwire today to learn more about the services we provide to businesses.