Our business is named XYZ, LLC and we do business as XYZ (really stands for something else). This is an active, legitimate, licensed business we’ve had for over five years. We have a domain registered as XYZ.com and we also reserved several other similar sounding names that we don’t use.
Foolishly, we did not register XYZLLC.com but someone else did recently and they use our home address on their site. I imagine this was obtained from public information. I understand when you call, they even answer using my real name. They are using this site to scam others out of a lot of money.
Wisely, someone used this info to do a skip trace and found me. They pointed me to the bogus website and I was horrified. Since then, I have received other phone calls from other victims and reported this to a number of authorities including the domain host. Naturally, all I have heard are crickets.
I recently contacted an IP attorney about filing an UDRP to gain ownership of the domain. Unfortunately, I didn’t file a trademark but the lawyer says I still have a reasonably strong case. (Not a slam dunk I guess, because I didn’t file the trademark??).
I’m obviously new to all of this and also very naïve so I have a few questions:
1) The Lawyer wants $5000 to file the UDRP. Not sure at this point if it includes the $1500 panelist fee to WIPO. Is this reasonable?
2) Is there anything specific I should ask or request of this lawyer?
3) Is there anything else I can or should do?
Thank you.
Foolishly, we did not register XYZLLC.com but someone else did recently and they use our home address on their site. I imagine this was obtained from public information. I understand when you call, they even answer using my real name. They are using this site to scam others out of a lot of money.
Wisely, someone used this info to do a skip trace and found me. They pointed me to the bogus website and I was horrified. Since then, I have received other phone calls from other victims and reported this to a number of authorities including the domain host. Naturally, all I have heard are crickets.
I recently contacted an IP attorney about filing an UDRP to gain ownership of the domain. Unfortunately, I didn’t file a trademark but the lawyer says I still have a reasonably strong case. (Not a slam dunk I guess, because I didn’t file the trademark??).
I’m obviously new to all of this and also very naïve so I have a few questions:
1) The Lawyer wants $5000 to file the UDRP. Not sure at this point if it includes the $1500 panelist fee to WIPO. Is this reasonable?
2) Is there anything specific I should ask or request of this lawyer?
3) Is there anything else I can or should do?
Thank you.