Cease and Desist Template Message?

[scrsteven]

I recently purchased a domain name for $XXXX, that is 4 words .com. It is a rather specific name and not generic. I just scanned a list of typos of the name and discovered that there are about 15 obvious typos of my domain registered and parked with ads.

These are very obvious typos like TE instead of THE and 2 reversed letters, etc.

I was wondering if any of you have an email message template I could modify and send to the registrants of these typos in an attempt to ask them to cease and desist their typos of my domain. I'm not trying to hijack the names for myself, I just don't want competing ads etc. I don't have a TM, but I've been leasing the name for 4 months and have an active forum on it, and just bought the name outright. I know it's shaky legal ground but it can't hurt to try. I don't care to get the names for myself, just don't want competing ads.

Example is my name is "JohnsStockMarketForum.com" and the typos are JohnsStokcMarketForum.com or JohnsStockMarktForum.com.

Edit: I think I'll just drop the issue myself now and not send any message since the traffic must be so trivial (my name gets ~200 visitors/day, so typos can't be making that much). However, I'd still be interested in seeing some good message templates to send if another issue came up.

 

[almarti2]

I don't think you should feel like you are trying to hijack the names. It is obvious that others are profiting from the goodwill of your name.

I think that you do have trademark rights particulary with the specific nature of your site serving to distinguish and identify it. The traffic comes from the development of the site not logical type-ins.

Typosquatting is an unethical business practice and if you invested that much in the name I would consider arbitration.

 

[ntfu2]

not even worth your time, most owners will ignore the letters and you'll just be wasting time and money.

 

[MyPGP]

I wouldn't bother if their registration dates predate the purchase date of your domain.

 

[webfreak]

You can modify the following with regards to domains.

http://www.utsystem.edu/OGC/INTELLECTUALPROPERTY/contract/cease.htm

 

[fonzie_007]

I wouldn't worry about them unless they are putting up anti-your site advertisements, etc. You aren't getting much traffic now and most likely the people will let the names drop when they come up for expiration. You may also want to stick a TM behind your site title, print off a copy of it, stick it in a sealed envelope and mail it to yourself--This works as a poor man's trademark. You'd have to ask JBerryHill, but I believe most jurisdictions give weight to these.

Alternatively, just register with USPTO.gov for a TM. It will cost you some dough, but may be less than the squatters are going to attempt to exhort from you.