Dealing with Domain Squatters?

Hey,

I have a website (rshumor.net) which has become very popular -- I own the .com and .net of that URL. The .net is the primary website.

It's based upon a game called Runescape which is British -- I neglected however to register the domain names rshumoUr.net/com/org (the British spelling of humor) when I created the site. The aforementioned url (rshumour) has become a typical mis-spelling of my real site. My site was created first, and archive.org as well as domain registration info proves this. Is there any way I can claim these domains as they are squatting attempts designed to profit off of my traffic WITHOUT registering a trademark? I don't have the money for that right now unfortunately.

Any information would be GREATLY appreciated.

Travis

 

I don't think there is any way to claim those domains, even if they are pretty much the same as your site. Buying them might be the only way.

 

UK TM starts at only 60 pounds.

 

Good to know; thanks.

Unfortunately by British I meant it's simply the British spelling. The domains are all registered under candian registrars it looks like, with some domain whois information showing places in American Somoa, Canada, and China.



So they are exempt from US TM's anyway -- and I guess it would take that expensive ICANN progress to get them.

 

It's funny how people who don't bother to protect themselves upfront by spending the extra $7 to reg a very common mispelling of their names or register a TM want to steal the name of someone else without compensating them.

It's highly unlikely you'll get the name unless you buy the name from the owner, if they are willing to sell it.

 

Unless you own the trademark, you won't be able to get them without actually offering to buy them from the owner.

Even if you own the trademark, it may cost you a fortune to get the domain names in legal fees from the owner (though sometimes if you win they would have to pay fees).

 

www.wipo.int

 

surely this is a WIPO issue

 

If they are using the domains to provide similar content or sell similar items, you may have a chance in arbitration.

I would let it ride until I filed for and got trademark approval. Then I would offer them a little compensation for the domains and if they refused then go to arbitration.