Cybersquatting

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What is cybersquatting?

Cybersquatting is squatting in cyberspace. It is interesting subject in modern web oriented world, where more and more business is done through internet and in some areas we can already say somebody without proper web site simply does not exist.

Cybersquatting, also known as domain squatting is registration of domain(s) with the intention to prevent others to register their business and maybe later sell them the domain with huge profit. As scalping, domain squatting is illegal business with a lot of grey areas.

Cybersquatting is easy!

CybersquatterWell, all you have to do, is domain registration. For that you need access to Web, e-mail account (free and anonymous account is perfectly all right) and few bucks, because in most cases domain costs you just about 10 dollars or so.

O.k. if you want all domains with the same word and all important extensions (.COM, .ORG, .NET, .INFO and so on) and maybe variations of the word, we can talk about investment, but we can still easily stay under 100 dollars.

If you can sell domains later for several hundreds EACH, we can still make good money almost without effort...

Some examples of cybersquatting:

Typosquatting is based on misspellings:
WONTED-NAMEdotCOM instead WANTED-NAMEdotCOM
or
WWWWANTEDNAMEdotCOM instead WWWdotWANTED-NAMEdotCOM
In these cases squatter use common misspellings with bad intention to redirect traffic from real site to his fake one. This is called trafficking.

Registering same name with different extension:
KNOWN-COMPANYdotCOM (real company's adress)
and
KNOWN-COMPANYdotNET (squatter's adress)

Registering real name beacuse of real company's forgetfullness
KNOWN-COMPANYdotCOM (real company's adress expired few days ago)
KNOWN-COMPANYdotCOM (real company's adress in squatter's hands just few days after)

You versus cybesquatter

Cybersquatter is in most cases hiding his face
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Have you heard about reverse domain hijacking?

Here the trademark holder (in most cases loaded with money) tries to get a domain with valuable name with the keyword which garantees high traffic from legal owner by accusing him cybersquatting.

Because cybersquatting related trial costs at least several thousand dollars, many owners withdraw from their legal right on the base of raw power.

What do you know about domain recovery?

Quiz with one question only!

More domain related issues

Here are five more lenses about domains. Four of them are written in Slovenian but all of them are provided with English translation, so everybody can read and understand them!
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Please share your experience with domain squatting

Or just stop to say Hi!

  • StacyBirch May 8, 2012 @ 1:13 am | delete
    Good lens, I've heard of it but it's never happened to me.
  • mihgasper May 9, 2012 @ 5:43 am | delete
    It is good to know before it happens!
  • Mairis Mar 19, 2012 @ 8:51 pm | delete
    nice lense
  • mihgasper Mar 20, 2012 @ 6:58 pm | delete
    Thanks:-)
  • Wbisbill Mar 9, 2012 @ 9:47 am | delete
    Great and informative lens!
  • Load More

Trademark domain name dispute...

...and some other resources

More about cybersquatting act
Laws about cybersquatting in USA which are different than in Canada. Or Australia. Or Russia...
Domain Name Resolution Policy
ICANN is non-profit corporation which oversees internet related issues.
Research example of typosquatting
Two researcher collected huge amount of important data just because of typing errors.

by

mihgasper

Hi. I am a very special squid. I have very versatile knowledge and like to help my friends with supporting articles and related stuff. I even write a blog... more »

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