Should CYBER-SQUATTERS prosecuted under the LAW?

[AreYouSerious]

So should they be prosecuted under the max penalty? even small time cyber-squatters?

I know Microsoft has step up the act but mainly for larger skill cyber-squatters who have made alot of money off there trademark.


Just read about a company going after a small time cyber-squatter for $100,000.

Let me know what do you think?

 

[KingDon]

“Mr. Lahoti’s bad faith and his deliberate and knowing acts, his pattern and practice of registering domain names that incorporate the trademarks of others,

What more need be said? There is the line, cross it, and you deserve everything that happens. China in charge of the internet, that did make me laugh. Our politicians will pay off the national debt by finding us all squatters, and handing everything over to President Hu.

Guys, if you go after names that are already trademarked, and intend to generate weekly/monthly/yearly income off of their product/service, then you’re squatting.

If you’re squatting (and you really know if you already are a squatter) and the trademark owner comes a knocking, just save yourself the trouble, and hand it over.

 

[SpongyBob]

I think making it illegal would just allow big companies more opportunity to bully people of their legitimately owned domains. Big company's lawyer will send a letter "it's illegal what you're doing, hand it over, or potentially face criminal proceedings against you" and scare the legitimate owner off it.

I'd say there's sometimes a case that someone registers a domain without realizing it's trademarked. There's over a 100 countries in the world, and most have trademark systems, and I don't believe there's a universal trademark search engine yet, so is someone expected to search through over 100 online databases before registering a domain? (of course, that's assuming that every country has a online searchable database of their trademarks, which I suspect might still not be the case)

I think the current rules are already robust enough.

As someone who deals with squatters on just about a weekly basis, I believe there should be stiffer penalties for squatters. Specifically, I believe there should be asset seizures for individuals who live overseas who believe they can operate with immunity because US law can't "touch" them.

And would you be ok if some company in a far flung country had the power to try to seize your assets if they claimed you were infringing their trademark?

 

[Dave_Z]

I think making it illegal

Cybersquatting is illegal in the US under ACPA. Not yet in other
countries, though.