URL theft by a partner or co-owner: We receive calls every week from firms who essentially tell us that an ex-partner or company owner has taken control of their domain registrations and that the now-ex-partner refuses to release the stolen name to the corporate. Perhaps the name was registered initially in a single partner’s name. In some cases, that business owner redirects the domain to a different website, essentially putting the web business out of business. More often, the business owner demands some sort or money or other consideration in exchange for the domain name. Essentially, they use the URL as leverage to acquire something they couldn’t achieve within the context of the partnership. This is maybe probably the most common example of domain name theft. Domains stolen on this fashion account for about 25% of the calls and emails we receive within the domain theft area.
URLTheft by Employees: Unfortunately, corporate management is never involved within the registration strategy of their domains. Registration of domains is commonly handled by the IT department, and even delegated to lower level website online employees. Due to the high turnover rate at that level, the worker with access to the domain registrant login information finally ends up leaving the corporate, taking that information with them. Again, if there’s a dispute with the worker, it often turns into a website name dispute after termination. Once the domain registrant information is stolen, it may be difficult to retrieve.
URL Theft by Vendors: Sometimes, a technology vendor or website online developer uses their very own information to register your firms domain name, even going to date as to list their company because the registrant of your trademarks. If a billing dispute arises down the road, the online developer uses the URL as leverage to receives a commission. Much more common, the online vendor goes out of business and the corporate doesn’t realize that they don’t have any way of obtaining control of the domain name and even renewing the domain name at the top of the registration period. If a website name is stolen by the online developer or vendor, you possibly can be in big trouble if the seller’s company folds, the online developer moves away otherwise you change into the goal of cyber-extortion.
The words “someone stole my domain name” are words said far too often in our business. Firms must take their mental property rights more seriously and protect their intangible assets like they do other tangible property. An oz. of prevention is admittedly value a pound of cure. Control your registrant login and you’ll control your domain name from theft.
