MSFT Sues Cybersquatters

[Phronesis]

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2006/08/22/ap2966123.html?partner=alerts

"The Redmond, Wash., software giant said cybersquatters and typosquatters - people who register Web addresses either with trademarked terms or with common misspellings in the hopes of luring Web surfers who mistype addresses into their browsers - are now registering more than 2,000 domains each day targeting Microsoft.

The vast majority of the sites, which have addresses like "microsoftrebate.com," "xbox36com.com" and "msnfinance.com," are bought by professional operations that place nothing on the pages but pay-per-click ads served by online-ad networks, Microsoft said. About a quarter of the sites use privacy services to disguise their identities. "

 

[D'oh]

well all those people who registered microsoft "zune" domains must be very happy with thier decision to "cybersquat" and bring the domaining industry into disrepute once again. thanks ZUNERS! what were you thinking? zune domains are technically worthless and most probably now a LIABILITY :imho:

p.s. i told you so

Wii will be next :hehe:

 

[Domainate.com]

well all those people who registered microsoft "zune" domains must be very happy with thier decision to "cybersquat" and bring the domaining industry into disrepute once again. thanks ZUNERS! what were you thinking? zune domains are technically worthless and most probably now a LIABILITY :imho:

p.s. i told you so

Wii will be next :hehe:

I personally don't know why zune domainers thought MS would let that one slide. They fight Windows names, they fight MikeRowSoft...why on earth would they not fight Zune names? Then again, some domainers have already made quick bucks from getting Zune names.

 

[Keynes]

The TM vioation is an issue here, but what is more important is the use of the TMs to drive parking/PPC traffic -- that is what brought the lawsuit, rather than a C&D

 

[D'oh]

yahoo has a similar lawsuit against 1800+ domainers/companies around the world for using yahooXXXX.com etc type domains.

 

[NP41215]

Zune may have different meanings in different languages.

For example, it means "Where Located?" in one non-English language.

Aha, that's a generic!

 

[zachary0611]

i have heard that nintendo is more friendly so wii names shouldnt have a problem