Domain Name Litigation

Knowledgeable San Francisco Domain Name Litigation Attorney

The Internet has brought traditional intellectual property together with new and evolving cyber law. This includes both domain name ownership litigation and cybersquatting lawsuits, i.e., typically where infringers register domain names that they know are protected trademarks of others. Domain name litigation also includes online arbitration under the Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP), and disputes concerning domain names alleged to have been “stolen,” i.e., domain names acquired by fraud or that are transferred from the lawful owner without his or her authority or consent.

When a domain name is a trademark of another party, the trademark owner may file for online arbitration under the Uniform Dispute Resolution Process (UDRP). In a UDRP action you need to prove the domain name was registered or in bad faith by the registrant, i.e., the violator likely knew the trademark was owned by another party when it was registered or they used this mark to profit from the trademark owner’s rights. Alternatively, the trademark owner may go to federal court where, in addition to transfer of the domain name, the trademark holder may obtain an injunction, statutory damages and attorney’s fees available under the federal Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1051 - 1127.

If you are embroiled in a dispute about the use of a domain name and need an experienced internet law attorney, contact me, Larry Townsend, to represent you for your domain name dispute. As your attorney, I am here to zealously protect your rights in domain names with results-oriented representation.

My firm is well equipped with the knowledge to handle these claims and to either help you retain your domain name or, if it was unlawfully acquired by another, prove all the elements of infringement.

Contact a lawyer you can trust and who is experienced in domain name litigation. My office is located in the heart of San Francisco and I look forward to speaking with you about your needs and concerns.