When it comes to cybersquatting, sometimes the business competition compliance line isn’t crystal clear.

The Domain Name Scuffle That Started A Business Competition Legal Skirmish

The Hatfields and McCoys of the Washington State roofing industry are suiting up to do battle over a domain name.

The URL at issue is SpokaneCommercialRoofing.com. In 2012,  Les Ludtke, of Spokane Commercial Roofing (Roofer A), registered SpokaneCommercialRoofing.com, for one year, and put a website on it.

Fast forward to 2013. Roofer A forgets to renew the domain. Jeffrey Sitton, of Spokane Roofing Co. (Roofer B), noticed Roofer A’s domain name registration lapse, scooped it up, and then forwarded it to his website, Spokaneroofing.com. My competitor “cybersquatted” on my domain, capitalized off my intellectual property, and by doing so engaged in unfair business competition.

Upon realizing that Roofer B had snagged his old domain, Roofer A sent a letter to Roofer B, outlining possible legal consequences for “stealing” his URL and re-directing it. When Roofer B got the letter, he stopped the re-direction. At the time of this writing, the website at issue is a blank white page.

Roofer A now wants the domain, SpokaneCommercialRoofing.com, back. So, he filed a lawsuit, arguing violations of the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act.

Roofer A’s reasoning simmered down to a single sentence:

My competitor “cybersquatted” on my domain, capitalized off my intellectual property, and by doing so engaged in unfair business competition.

If Someone Buys Your Domain Name After A Lapsed Registration, Can You Get It Back?

For starters, domain names aren’t thrown back into the public pool the second a registration expires. It usually takes between 40 – 50 days before another entity can purchase an expired URL. For starters, domain names aren’t thrown back into the public pool the second a registration expires. It usually takes between 40 – 50 days before another entity can purchase an expired URL.

But what if those 50 odd days passes? Can you still get your domain name back?

Whether or not your hold a formal copyright or trademark for the domain name will figure prominently. However, even if you haven’t registered your domain with the USTPO, all goodbyes aren’t gone.

How To Get A Lapsed Domain Back

Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy

Individuals and businesses caught in the middle of domain disputes can take their case to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (think: Guardians of the Galaxy, Domain Name Department). ICANN reviews cases using the Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy, and the panel’s rulings are usually (not always) upheld in a court of law.

You must pay ICANN a fee to review your case; the cost is dependent on how many “judges” weigh in on the issue.

Proper Paperwork Matters When Filing UDRP Review Requests

UDRP filings are complicated; one wrong check-mark will land you in the rejection pile. So, if you plan to go the ICANN/UDRP route to deal with your cybersquatting scenario, enlist a lawyer who has dealt with ICANN in the past and knows the ropes.

File A Lawsuit Using The Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act

Federal Law For Registered and Common-Law Trademarks

Enacted in 1999, the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act shields trademarked domain names from ne’er-do-wells. Businesses with trademark-registered URLs and companies with established reputations in their industries (common-law trademark), can use the act (in most cases) to prevent domain theft — even if the URL registration has lapsed.

In most cases, to win Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act claims, plaintiffs must prove that defendants profited from their actions.

Generic Keyword Domain Names Requires Experienced Representation

If your domain name is also a generic keyword (like the Roofer lawsuit above), the decision may come down to the quality of each side’s arguments. After all, is it fair to trademark a keyword phrase that every business, in a given industry and region, must use to rank well in search engines? If you decide to go the lawsuit route, find an attorney who has successfully handled business competition cybersquatting cases in the past. After all, is it fair to trademark a keyword phrase that every business, in a given industry and region, must use to rank well in search engines?

Contact A Business Competition Attorney With Cybersquatting Law Experience

Kelly / Warner Law is atop-rated legal practice, with a 10-out-of-10 AVVO rating.

A law firm for today’s marketplace, all Kelly / Warner attorneys have strong Internet law backgrounds.

Kelly / Warner’s litigation record is exemplary; moreover, we’re a practice of straight-shooters who will tell you the quickest, and least costly, path to overcome your challenge.

It’s time to get it done. It’s time to solve your cybersquatting problem. Give us a call or send an email, today.