David Weslow Discusses Cybersquatters’ Use of False Registration Information

David E. Weslow, a partner in Wiley Rein’s Intellectual Property Practice, commented on cybersquatting issues in a September 12 article published by Bloomberg BNA’s Electronic Commerce & Law Report.  The article focused on a recent ruling by the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) Arbitration and Mediation Center.

Ruling in favor of the plaintiff/complainant, the WIPO panel ruled that the defendant/respondent had, in bad faith, used a domain name that simulated the plaintiff’s trademark and registered the domain name in a name that simulated the name of a legitimate proxy registration service. The WIPO panel noted that the domain name in question was used to trick website visitors into downloading harmful software.

Mr. Weslow told Bloomberg BNA he has noticed an increase in the use of false registration information that resembles the information of a real person or entity.

“The use of false registration information that mimics a legitimate proxy registration service provides the typosquatter with another level of obfuscation and delay while the affected parties are forced to first determine that the registrant is not really a customer of the legitimate Domains By Proxy,” Mr. Weslow said.