Cyber Squatters vs. the UDRP

Throughout history and right up to the present time disputes between two or more parties have been a common occurrence.

This statement applies to disputes over just about anything, so it will come as no surprise that even on the Internet there is constant conflict going on for the titles used to establish identity. The titles in question are popularly known as “domain names”- the website addresses propecia young men Tadalis SX that we come to memorize and familiarize ourselves with during daily usage of the Internet. We often instinctively associate them with a brand name while we browse for the goods, services or information that a specific company or person offers. Using already popular terms or names in a web address to advertise a product is a common practice, but unfortunately so is the outlaw practice known as cyber squatting.

Cyber squatting is the act of purchasing or “sitting” on a domain name long before any webpage design has even taken place. The registration of domain names is a quick and easy process that usually costs next to nothing, so hundreds of them can be purchased as investments since many of them could eventually sell for much more than their original cost. In a lawless manner, cyber extortion and cyber squatting run rampant, terrorizing potential business owners or current owners. The profits that can be gained through a quick auction to a frustrated buyer can actually be a rip-off of tremendous proportions. To combat this and help bring justice to these disputes, the UDRP was created.

The Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy is a regulatory body that protects trademarks, copyrights and names of famous or semi-famous identities that could be stolen for use by cyber squatters. A typical UDRP scenario usually unfolds with one party instigating action or a complaint against another in regard to the usage or theft of a domain name. More than three thousand cases have been filed since the establishment of the UDRP and they have Cialis already had significant success in retrieving stolen trademarks, names or entities being used without permission. If the complainant can prove that the trademark was incorporated into the domain name without permission or is confusingly similar to the name in question, the UDRP can take action with a high chance of success to stop its use. If there is proof that the registration of the name was done in bad faith or the owner has no legitimate interest tied to it, the case is often open and shut.

Unfortunately, these protective associations and laws often aren’t enough to deter a would-be cyber squatter. Domain names can often be predicted and quickly purchased by a knowledgeable researcher. They find an up-and-coming celebrity or sports star, a company whose stock portfolio is rising at a shocking rate, a newly created and unpatented product or invention, and register domain names that may one day lead to a big payoff.

The Internet is a booming force today, and as with anything else, there will always be elements of good and evil or generosity and greed locking horns and doing battle with each other. Domain names will continue to represent brands, companies, and people, and cyber squatters will continue to pose a threat to the legitimate use of domain names. Organisations such as the UDRP are all that stands between the two sides, providing a beacon of light for the downtrodden and fighting for justice while stopping corrupt practices from taking place without consequence.

Author Bio: John E, Media Relations Adviser Easily.co.ukDomain name registration, register your low cost domain name today! Search quickly and easily, all major extensions and no catches

Category: Internet/Domain Names
Keywords: domain names, Cyber Squatters, cyber squatting, udrp, Cyber Squatters vs. the UDRP

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