The State of Global Cybersquatting in 2007

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) reports Internet cybersquatting is exploding globally, up 25% in 2006 over the previous year, as even software colossus Microsoft's Bill Gates lost a symbolic case involving his Corbis images company, presided over by WIPO, as well.

New methods have been developed to gain control of potentially lucrative addresses that have resulted in many trademark owners being stymied when trying to bring their product directly to consumers via the 'Net. For instance, WIPO reports that cybersquatters now use automatic software packages that troll for and instantly purchase esteemed domain names that may have temporarily expired. Then, they "park" at them and install pay-per-click portal sites. The creation by domain registration sites of introductory offers that allow a five-day test period encourages speculators, especially in newly opening top-tier generic domains, and emboldens anonymous registrations that ultimately aid the usurpation of valuable intellectual property rights.