|
Software giant Microsoft Corp. Wednesday launched a
string of lawsuits in the United States and Britain against "cybersquatters"
who register Internet site names in the hope of a quick buck.
The US company said it had filed or amended four civil suits in the
United States, and launched five new cases in Britain.
Microsoft accused cybersquatters who register Internet domain names
such as "
winowslivemessenger.com" and "www.micr0soft.co.uk"
of tricking unsuspecting users into visiting their sites.
The sites are typically loaded with "pay-per-click"
advertisements that generate revenues for the domain owner, who also
often try to sell the names back to legitimate companies to remove
their irritant value.
"These sites confuse visitors who are trying to reach genuine
company websites, which can negatively affect corporate brands and
reputations as well as impair the end-users' experience
online," said Aaron Kornblum, senior attorney with Microsoft.
"With every ad hyperlink clicked, a registrant or ad network
harvests cash at the trademark owner's expense, while derailing
legitimate efforts by computer users who are trying to go to a
specific website," he said.
Microsoft said that in the past six months, it had already reclaimed
more than 1,100 domain names worldwide that infringed on its
trademarks.
It said it had settled two lawsuits in the United States filed in
August which yielded damages worth a total of three million dollars
and the return of 409 domain names.
Microsoft also announced a settlement with Britain's Dyslexic Domain
Co. Ltd. which was alleged to have registered more than 6,000
suspect domain names. Details of the settlement were kept
confidential.
-- AFP
|
