Protecting your brand online is a complex task that involves dealing with various threats. One such threat is cybersquatting, which can affect any domain name owner. Let’s explore what it is and how to overcome it. 

What is Cybersquatting? 

Cybersquatting refers to the practice of registering domain names that are identical to or similar to an existing one. It can be a violation of intellectual property rights. 

The goal of cybersquatters is to profit from the use of a popular trademark, company name, or the name of a specific person via domains. They register domain names that are identical to or similar to brands. 

Attackers can use domain names to mislead users, steal their data, or display ads. 

What Types of Cybersquatting Exist? 

There are several types of cybersquatting: 

• One of the most common types is typosquatting. Cybersquatters register domain names that are very similar to the addresses of well-known websites. They do this in hopes that users will make a mistake when typing the domain name and end up on their site. By doing this, cybersquatters can earn money by displaying ads or stealing user data. 

• In name cybersquatting, domains are registered using the names of famous people, such as actors, singers, politicians, public figures, and others. This type of cybersquatting is challenging to prove because thousands of people can have the same name. Therefore, many celebrities try to register their names as trademarks to protect their interests online. 

• Brand cybersquatting refers to the practice of registering domain names that are as similar as possible to the names of well-known brands, trademarks, various companies, and even films. The primary purpose of this activity is to earn profit. 

• Cybersquatters often buy dropped domains that were not renewed. This type of activity is known as drop-domain or auction cybersquatting. After acquiring a domain name that a brand accidentally dropped, the cybersquatters try to find the original registrant and sell it back to them at an increased price.  

How to Fight Cybersquatting? 

Fighting cybersquatting is not an easy task, but it’s possible. You have several options to consider: 

1. Get Your Domain Name First  

Before registering a trademark, choose your domain name. When naming a new company or product, make sure the desired domain is available first. Then, register your trademark. This is the most effective way to protect your brand.  

2. Check the history of the domain

If, for some reason, you decide to buy a domain from a private person, make sure to check the name they offer thoroughly. The history of the domain can tell you a lot about its previous owners, what websites were hosted on it, what backlinks were used, and more. This way, you can get a better idea of its actual value. 

3. Use defensive domain registration

Many brand owners register domain names that are close, similar, or related in meaning to their own. 

You can register multiple domain names that match or are similar to your brand in different extensions. Explore the full range of available domain extensions. Consider new gTLDs (generic top-level domains) and other emerging extensions, such as .it.com, which are growing quickly and may be a good fit for your business. 

You don’t need to register domains in every available extension. Start by choosing those that are significant and widely used. To make an informed decision, check the availability of the domain extension on various registrars and resellers. 

Consider typos that closely resemble your brand. This could include common misspellings as well as keyboard errors. 

4. Work with a trusted, brand-focused registrar

To prevent becoming a victim of cybersquatting, it’s a good idea to buy domains from trusted companies that specialize in name brands. BrandShelter works with hundreds of registries to help you protect your brand by covering it in the broadest possible range of suffixes, including .it.com. 

5. Renew your domain name

Don’t forget to renew your domain name. When you buy a domain, you aren’t purchasing it for life. Instead, it’s more like you’re renting it for a specific period. Therefore, it’s important to remember when your domain name is set to expire. This will help you avoid many problems in the future. 

By paying for your domain name renewal on time, you can prevent an opportunist from taking over your domain name and then trying to sell it back to you at a high price. 

6. Use specialized tools

One company launched the GlobalBlock service at the end of last year. This tool is designed for trademark owners to block hundreds of domain name endings with one broad stroke. Additionally, GlobalBlock checks for typos and homographs in internationalized domain names (IDNs). Speak to your BrandShelter representative for more information. 

7. Use the UDRP

To combat cybersquatting, ICANN created the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP). This policy helps resolve domain disputes via arbitration centers. However, it doesn’t apply to all domain extensions. It only covers generic top-level domains (gTLDs) like .com, .net, and .org, as well as some country-code top-level domains like .eu (European Union), .cn (China), and .hn (Honduras). 

To resolve a cybersquatting incident, you can also contact the appropriate court. 

This article is not intended to be legal advice. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our BrandShelter experts to assist you in finding the balance by establishing a global strategy, from the registration to the defense of your brands.

This content has been provided by it.com. 

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