Domain Name Wire

Person Files UDRP Against New Domain Owner After Letting Domain Expire

Former owner of domain claims cybersquatting after letting domain registration lapse.

Imagine that a domain name expires and you pick it up in an expired domain auction. Then the previous owner files a UDRP against you claiming cybersquatting to get the domain name back.

I’ve seen a few cases like this, including one just decided for PitRoad.com.

In this case the complainant had a registered trademark for PitRoad.com*, which could have been harmful to the respondent. But the trademark was for internet services while the new registrant planns to use the domain name for auto racing — a very plausible claim given what the name means.

Panelist Bruce E. Meyerson found that the domain name wasn’t registered in bad faith and that the respondent didn’t offer to sell the domain name until approached by the complainant.

*The complainant’s name doesn’t match that of the previous domain owner nor the owner of the PitRoad.com trademark, so I’m assuming the complainant is affiliated with the trademark owner.

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Tags: Policy & Law, udrp