Southern California Trademark Rights Attorney
While many attorneys use the Web as a resource, very few understand how to appropriately respond to Internet-specific legal issues such as domain name disputes. As an Internet attorney in Los Angeles, I have handled a wide range of domain name issues ranging from cybersquatting and trademark violations to domain sales and leases.
Domain name disputes usually center on trademark rights. All registrars in the .biz, .com, .info, .name, .net, and .org domains follow the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (usually referred to as UDRP) when there is a dispute. Under the right circumstances, litigation can be avoided by filing a UDRP action with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
Trademark owners can also sue alleged infringers in federal court for trademark infringement.
Trademark Violations and Domain Names
Companies that own trademark rights want to interpret those rights as broadly as possible on the Internet. I represent both defendants and plaintiffs in trademark infringement cases involving domain names.
Under the UDRP policy, most trademark-based domain-name disputes must be resolved by agreement, court action, or arbitration before a registrar will cancel, suspend or transfer a domain name.
Cybersquatting
Many companies gobble up domain names in hopes of making a quick buck by selling those names to businesses. This is known as cybersquatting. Cybersquatting often occurs when a company or trademark owner has not been vigilant in protecting trademark rights as they relate to domain names.
Disputes arising from abusive registrations of domain names may be addressed by expedited UDRP proceedings or a cybersquatting lawsuit filed in United States District Court.
For more information about domain name disputes: Contact me, Los Angeles attorney Erik Syverson, today to discuss your case.
