Microsoft Steps Up Cybersquatting Fight
Microsoft is stepping up efforts against cybersquatters in the United States and Britain, saying Wednesday it had filed several new lawsuits in the US and expanded another. Several cases are now in settlement.
The newest action is against Maltuzi, LLC of California, which Microsoft says is profiting off of domain names that use Microsoft trademarks. The company is accused of registering large blocks of domain names in an attempt to profit off of their sale later.
"With every ad hyperlink clicked, a registrant or ad network harvests cash at the trademark owner's expense, while derailing legitimate efforts by computer users who are trying to go to a specific Web site," senior Microsoft attorney Aaron Kornblum said.
In addition to the Maltuzi case, the company has either filed or amended three other suits in the country, including one in federal district court in the state of Washington, and another in state Superior Court. Each had to do with either identifying "John Doe" defendants, or filing suit to unmask previously named "John Does."
Across the Atlantic, Microsoft is also legally active in Britain as well. Five new cases have been filed throughout the UK on trademark violations, and the company has reached a settlement with Dyslexic Domain Company Ltd., which agreed to a monetary settlement among other terms.
"We hope that our stance and activity on this issue will help motivate and empower other companies whose brands are abused to take action," Kornblum said.
In related news, Microsoft has come to terms with cybersquatters in Utah, who agreed to a $2 million settlement and other confidential terms, and in California, where the defendants agreed to a $1 million settlement.
Over the past six months alone, 1,100 infringing domain names have been reclaimed through the help of Microsoft researchers, the company said.