This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/aug/28/domain-name-disputes-brands-cybersquatters
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Domain name disputes hit record high as brands defend virtual shop doorways | Domain name disputes hit record high as brands defend virtual shop doorways |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Disputes over web domain ownership are expected to hit a record this year as the growing importance of online shopping triggers a wave of legal challenges from owners of famous brands. | Disputes over web domain ownership are expected to hit a record this year as the growing importance of online shopping triggers a wave of legal challenges from owners of famous brands. |
| In one current case, Gucci is insisting that it, rather than an anonymous e-commerce company, should have control of the guccishoponline.org domain name. | In one current case, Gucci is insisting that it, rather than an anonymous e-commerce company, should have control of the guccishoponline.org domain name. |
| A key driver of the disputes is the rise of "cybersquatters" in China, who register the names of web domains linked to famous brands so they can either sell counterfeit goods or demand money from the brand owner before they relinquish ownership. | A key driver of the disputes is the rise of "cybersquatters" in China, who register the names of web domains linked to famous brands so they can either sell counterfeit goods or demand money from the brand owner before they relinquish ownership. |
| Famous brands that have taken up cases in the past 12 months include Swarovski, Armani, Burberry, Cartier and Dior. The World Intellectual Property Organisation (Wipo), which acts as the final adjudicator in arguments over who should be given control of a web domain, decided on nearly 3,000 cases in the 12 months to July 2012, the highest figure since 2007, according to the legal information provider Sweet & Maxwell. | Famous brands that have taken up cases in the past 12 months include Swarovski, Armani, Burberry, Cartier and Dior. The World Intellectual Property Organisation (Wipo), which acts as the final adjudicator in arguments over who should be given control of a web domain, decided on nearly 3,000 cases in the 12 months to July 2012, the highest figure since 2007, according to the legal information provider Sweet & Maxwell. |
| Wipo's own figures suggest it is on course to give a record number of judgments for the whole of 2012. In 2011 it adjudicated on 2,764 cases, but by this August it had already decided on 1,931 cases, with one of the busiest periods of the year still ahead. | Wipo's own figures suggest it is on course to give a record number of judgments for the whole of 2012. In 2011 it adjudicated on 2,764 cases, but by this August it had already decided on 1,931 cases, with one of the busiest periods of the year still ahead. |
| Sweet & Maxwell says that this year Gucci has brought six cases before Wipo to win control of more than 100 domains, such as cheapguccionsale.com and guccishoponline.org. The Austrian luxury brand Swarovski has brought, and won, 32 cases since 2010. | Sweet & Maxwell says that this year Gucci has brought six cases before Wipo to win control of more than 100 domains, such as cheapguccionsale.com and guccishoponline.org. The Austrian luxury brand Swarovski has brought, and won, 32 cases since 2010. |
| Apple, too, has been active, filing and winning a case in May for control of the iphone5.com domain name, even though it has no product with that name. | Apple, too, has been active, filing and winning a case in May for control of the iphone5.com domain name, even though it has no product with that name. |
| John Olsen, partner at the law firm Edwards Wildman, said: "As online retail becomes more profitable, household name brands are taking the defence of their domain names much more seriously. They are doing all that they can to protect their revenue streams. Domain names are the key to the door of online retail." | John Olsen, partner at the law firm Edwards Wildman, said: "As online retail becomes more profitable, household name brands are taking the defence of their domain names much more seriously. They are doing all that they can to protect their revenue streams. Domain names are the key to the door of online retail." |
| The number of disputes could rise even further with the introduction next year of a completely new set of domains. Google has already applied for more than a hundred domain extensions, including ".youtube". | The number of disputes could rise even further with the introduction next year of a completely new set of domains. Google has already applied for more than a hundred domain extensions, including ".youtube". |
| Apple accused of overstating damages in patent case against Samsung | Apple accused of overstating damages in patent case against Samsung |
| 17 Aug 2012 | 17 Aug 2012 |
| Financial expert claims Apple overstated profit margins earned by Samsung's mobile products as patent trial drwas to a close. By Charles Arthur | Financial expert claims Apple overstated profit margins earned by Samsung's mobile products as patent trial drwas to a close. By Charles Arthur |
| 28 Sep 2011 | |
| Kindle Fire: Amazon ignites the tablet market | |
| 29 Dec 2009 | 29 Dec 2009 |
| Nokia's war with Apple heats up thanks to new complaint | Nokia's war with Apple heats up thanks to new complaint |
| 20 Dec 2011 | 20 Dec 2011 |
| Tech Weekly podcast: 2011 review | Tech Weekly podcast: 2011 review |
| 20 Jun 2012 | 20 Jun 2012 |
| Apple violated a Samsung patent, Dutch court rules | Apple violated a Samsung patent, Dutch court rules |
| Beijing Apple store pelted with eggs at iPhone 4S launch | Beijing Apple store pelted with eggs at iPhone 4S launch |
| 13 Jan 2012 | 13 Jan 2012 |
| Apple suspends retail sales of iPhone 4S in China after scuffles break out between security and shoppers who queued overnight to be told store would not open | Apple suspends retail sales of iPhone 4S in China after scuffles break out between security and shoppers who queued overnight to be told store would not open |
| Turn autoplay off | Turn autoplay off |
| Turn autoplay on | Turn autoplay on |
| Please activate cookies in order to turn autoplay off | Please activate cookies in order to turn autoplay off |
| Edition: UK | Edition: UK |
| About us | About us |
| Today's paper | Today's paper |
| Subscribe | Subscribe |
| With online shopping ever more crucial for retailers, the likes of Armani and Apple are acting vigorously to evict cybersquatters | With online shopping ever more crucial for retailers, the likes of Armani and Apple are acting vigorously to evict cybersquatters |
| Disputes over web domain ownership are expected to hit a record this year as the growing importance of online shopping triggers a wave of legal challenges from owners of famous brands. | Disputes over web domain ownership are expected to hit a record this year as the growing importance of online shopping triggers a wave of legal challenges from owners of famous brands. |
| In one current case, Gucci is insisting that it, rather than an anonymous e-commerce company, should have control of the guccishoponline.org domain name. | In one current case, Gucci is insisting that it, rather than an anonymous e-commerce company, should have control of the guccishoponline.org domain name. |
| A key driver of the disputes is the rise of "cybersquatters" in China, who register the names of web domains linked to famous brands so they can either sell counterfeit goods or demand money from the brand owner before they relinquish ownership. | A key driver of the disputes is the rise of "cybersquatters" in China, who register the names of web domains linked to famous brands so they can either sell counterfeit goods or demand money from the brand owner before they relinquish ownership. |
| Famous brands that have taken up cases in the past 12 months include Swarovski, Armani, Burberry, Cartier and Dior. The World Intellectual Property Organisation (Wipo), which acts as the final adjudicator in arguments over who should be given control of a web domain, decided on nearly 3,000 cases in the 12 months to July 2012, the highest figure since 2007, according to the legal information provider Sweet & Maxwell. | Famous brands that have taken up cases in the past 12 months include Swarovski, Armani, Burberry, Cartier and Dior. The World Intellectual Property Organisation (Wipo), which acts as the final adjudicator in arguments over who should be given control of a web domain, decided on nearly 3,000 cases in the 12 months to July 2012, the highest figure since 2007, according to the legal information provider Sweet & Maxwell. |
| Wipo's own figures suggest it is on course to give a record number of judgments for the whole of 2012. In 2011 it adjudicated on 2,764 cases, but by this August it had already decided on 1,931 cases, with one of the busiest periods of the year still ahead. | Wipo's own figures suggest it is on course to give a record number of judgments for the whole of 2012. In 2011 it adjudicated on 2,764 cases, but by this August it had already decided on 1,931 cases, with one of the busiest periods of the year still ahead. |
| Sweet & Maxwell says that this year Gucci has brought six cases before Wipo to win control of more than 100 domains, such as cheapguccionsale.com and guccishoponline.org. The Austrian luxury brand Swarovski has brought, and won, 32 cases since 2010. | Sweet & Maxwell says that this year Gucci has brought six cases before Wipo to win control of more than 100 domains, such as cheapguccionsale.com and guccishoponline.org. The Austrian luxury brand Swarovski has brought, and won, 32 cases since 2010. |
| Apple, too, has been active, filing and winning a case in May for control of the iphone5.com domain name, even though it has no product with that name. | Apple, too, has been active, filing and winning a case in May for control of the iphone5.com domain name, even though it has no product with that name. |
| John Olsen, partner at the law firm Edwards Wildman, said: "As online retail becomes more profitable, household name brands are taking the defence of their domain names much more seriously. They are doing all that they can to protect their revenue streams. Domain names are the key to the door of online retail." | John Olsen, partner at the law firm Edwards Wildman, said: "As online retail becomes more profitable, household name brands are taking the defence of their domain names much more seriously. They are doing all that they can to protect their revenue streams. Domain names are the key to the door of online retail." |
| The number of disputes could rise even further with the introduction next year of a completely new set of domains. Google has already applied for more than a hundred domain extensions, including ".youtube". | The number of disputes could rise even further with the introduction next year of a completely new set of domains. Google has already applied for more than a hundred domain extensions, including ".youtube". |