BackTightening the nooze around the neck of cybersquatters
Tightening the nooze around the neck of cybersquatters
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AFP
LONDON: Microsoft has launched a string of court actions in the United States and Europe against cybersquatters, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.
Cybersquatting is the practice of using an internet domain name -- such as the misspelt “micrsoft.com" -- to profit from the popularity of another company’s brand.
Many cybersquatters make money from web traffic which accidentally comes to their site from people looking for a well-known brand or by selling their domain name back to the trademark owner.
Microsoft is launching lawsuits in the US against companies which it claims have registered trademarks which infringe its intellectual property and also plans court actions in Britain, Germany and Italy, the FT said.
The firm hopes that other companies will follow its example and help in creating deterrants for those who indulge in unlawful activity.
“Cybersquatting is a growing problem for brands around the world and we hope to educate other brand holders and encourage them to take action," Aaron Kornblum, a senior Microsoft lawyer, told the business daily.
Microsoft has won two lawsuits in the United States since August which yielded three million dollars (Rs135 crore)worth of damages and the return of 409 domain names, it added.
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