Protecting Your Domain Name From Internet
Thieves, Employees & Ex-Partners
By Enrico Schaefer
URL theft by a partner or co-owner: We receive calls every week
from companies who essentially tell us that an ex-partner or
company owner has taken control of their domain registrations
and that the now-ex-partner refuses to release the stolen name
to the company. Perhaps the name was registered initially in
one partner's name. In some cases, that business owner redirects
the domain to another website, essentially putting the online
business out of business. More often, the business owner demands
some sort or money or other consideration in exchange for the
domain name. Essentially, they use the URL as leverage to obtain
something they couldn't achieve in the context of the partnership.
This is perhaps the most common example of domain name theft.
Domain names stolen in this fashion account for about 25% of
the calls and emails we receive in the domain theft area.
URLTheft by Employees: Unfortunately, corporate management
is rarely involved in the registration process of their domain
names. Registration of domains is often handled by the IT
department, and even delegated to lower level web site employees.
Because of the high turnover rate at that level, the employee
with access to the domain registrant login information ends
up leaving the company, taking that information with them.
Again, if there is a dispute with the employee, it often turns
into a domain name dispute after termination. Once the domain
registrant information is stolen, it can be difficult to retrieve.
URL Theft by Vendors: Sometimes, a technology vendor or web
site developer uses their own information to register your
companies domain name, even going so far as to list their
company as the registrant of your trademarks. If a billing
dispute arises down the line, the web developer uses the URL
as leverage to get paid. Even more common, the web vendor
goes out of business and the company doesn't realize that
they have no way of obtaining control of the domain name or
even renewing the domain name at the end of the registration
period. If a domain name is stolen by the web developer or
vendor, you could be in big trouble if the vendor's company
folds, the web developer moves away or you become the target
of cyber-extortion.
The words "someone stole my domain name" are words
said far too often in our business. Companies must take their
intellectual property rights more seriously and protect their
intangible assets like they do other tangible property. An
ounce of prevention is really worth a pound of cure. Control
your registrant login and you will control your domain name
from theft.
Mr. Schaefer is a seasoned trial attorney practicing internet,
domain and trademark law on a global basis. Mr. Schaefer has
first chair trial experience in a wide variety of litigation
matters, including class action litigation, internet and domain
law, cybersquatting actions, intellectual property, commercial
and fiduciary litigation, UDRP and IP licensing. He has represented
some of the largest companies in the world in litigation,
domain name, trademark and related matters. He is a frequent
author and presenter on issues related to protecting business
interests in a global internet economy.
To find out more about trademark protection, copyright law,
cybersquatting and complex litigation, please visit Traverse
Legal, PLC or visit our domain name protection blog or cybersquatting
blog
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Enrico_Schaefer
Enrico Schaefer is the founding attorney of Traverse Legal,
PLC, a law firm specializing in internet and web law http://www.traverselegal.com
. You can find out more about trademarks, domain disputes
and cease and desist letters at Traverse Legal's blogs found
at http://tcattorney.typepad.com/domainnamedispute/
& http://tcattorney.typepad.com/ip/
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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