Order a free seo audit

Cybersquatting – what is domain piracy and how to effectively fight it?

Cybersquatting – what is domain piracy and how to effectively fight it?

The new technologies development has plenty of benefits for many users, but as it turns out, not everyone uses them as they should. We are talking about cyber pirates, who, as part of cybersquatting, register Internet domains using an existing company name. The number of domain disputes is increasing every year. How to effectively fight cybersquatting and protect your domain from cybercriminals?

A brief history of cybersquatting

Probably no one will be surprised by the information that the first instance took place in the United States. The 1990s in the USA were called the Internet gold rush because at that time Americans were rapidly establishing online stores. The dynamic development of e-commerce has led to the creation of an ideal environment for cybercriminals who want to earn money from illegal activities on the Internet. In the 90s it was recognized that one of the key factors influencing the company’s popularity on the Internet was the domain name.

Cybersquatting in practice

As mentioned before, cybersquatting is about registering web addresses using names that sound like registered trademarks. Cyber pirates very often use unregistered trademarks during registration, which significantly extends their scope of activity. Of course, trademarks with a good reputation are most often chosen – the more popular trademark, the greater the chance of profit. The fight for the domain is nothing surprising at the moment. It has been known for a long time that websites are an element of building a strong brand.

Registering a trademark protects against cybersquatting

There are effective solutions to protect against the illegal activities of cyber pirates. Lawyers recommend registering the domain name as a trademark. The website owner can feel safer because he is given a domain. Thus, he will be able to request the removal of a domain created as part of cybersquatting.

However, domain owners should be vigilant, as registering a trademark does not fully solve the problem. In the light of the law, a registered trademark does not protect a domain when another company with the same name conducts activities of a different nature.

This is a global problem that has intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic

All the data show that cybersquatting is a practice that occurs all over the world. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is responsible for analyzing and examining cases concerning piracy of domains. A number of cyber-piracy cases were recorded in 2018, but the result was quickly beaten. From January to October 2020, WIPO received 3,405 cases, an 11% increase compared to the same period in 2019. Experts explain this with the coronavirus pandemic, during which many companies have stepped up their online activities. The data show that the most common victims of attacks are domains from sectors such as banking and finance (12%), biotechnology and pharmacy (11%), the Internet and information technologies (11%) and fashion (8%). However, it should be remembered that any domain may become a victim of cybersquatting, regardless of the type and nature of the business.

Also check
iCEA Group
iCEA Group is the leading SEO agency in Poland, based in Poznań, specializing in a business approach to website positioning. Since 2007, we have been raising the bar in the SEO/SEM industry and we are proud to say that we have the largest technical department in Poland, led by the best SEO experts with many years of experience. Our services are not limited to the Polish market, as we also run campaigns in India and the USA. With our expertise and dedication, we enable our clients to achieve online success.
Category: SEO
Recent entries
Are you wondering why your website is NOT SELLING?
Schedule a free SEO consultation and find out how we can improve your sales results.

Rate the article
Average rating 5/5 - Number of ratings: 9
Add comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Would you like to see what else we have written about?

Editorial links: a strong link building strategy
Editorial links: a strong link building strategy
As the digital landscape continues to evolve, so too must our link building strategies. Now, Google is valuing quality links more than ever before. That is why editorial links are so important.
Choosing the right SEO agency. How to verify its activities?
Choosing the right SEO agency. How to verify its activities?
Self-optimization and positioning can be extremely complicated. It requires knowledge, competences and tools that are best used by an SEO agency. How to choose one and not be deceived?
Product photography. How to choose the right photos for the website?
Product photography. How to choose the right photos for the website?
Images are often the first thing customers notice when they visit your website. On what basis should you choose photos for an online store?

Get started

with the comprehensive
SEO audit

Invest in a detailed SEO audit and understand your online performance. We analyze your website to get a clear view of what you can improve.

  • I Please send us a message first for the introduction.
  • II Then, our SEO Expert gets back right to you with a phone call.
  • III We schedule a consultation in time that works for you.
  • IV The SEO Expert audits your website and provides strategic recommendations on how to improve your performance.
  • V You'll get the SEO report with a comprehensive look at numerous search ranking factors such as technical items, on-page, content, and off-page metrics.