- Impact
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Just found this from a thread on reddit.
https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/comments/oav3ta/is_it_cybersquatting
NJ, USA
I’m helping a friend get information, so this isn’t my business.
My friend has an established business (since the 80’s) and has had a website for several years. He mistakenly failed to renew his domain name and it went to auction and was purchased by hugedomains.com. To buy it back, it would cost $10k. The domain only has utility to my friend, since it’s his name, which is unique. From my own research, it’s considered cybersquatting if the domain is a trademark of someone else’s being used to profit in bad faith.
It’s certainly being used in bad faith, but my question is about trademarking. Does my friend need to trademark his name before initiating arbitration with ICANN or a suit under the provisions of ACPA? I read we should first try to negotiate a deal with hugedomain.com, but I heard they increase their prices once they find out someone’s interested. I’d like to know what the next step would be in case that happens.
https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/comments/oav3ta/is_it_cybersquatting