Domain squatting (also known as cybersquatting) is the registration of a domain name that resembles an existing brand or company name, with the aim of reselling it, misleading visitors, or causing damage. This article explains how to recognize squatting, how to protect yourself, and what you can do if your brand name has already been claimed by someone else.
What is domain squatting
With domain squatting, someone registers a domain name that (strongly) resembles a well-known brand, product, or company name, without having any rights to it themselves. The goal is often financial gain: the domain name is later offered to the relevant company for a hefty sum. Other variants include typosquatting, where common typos in a domain name are registered, and the use of alternative extensions of an existing brand to create confusion.
Sometimes a hijacked domain name is also used for phishing or spreading malware, where visitors think they are visiting the real company. This can cause direct damage to reputation and customer trust.
How to recognize cybersquatting
A number of signals indicate cybersquatting:
- The domain name contains your brand name with a small spelling mistake or extra character.
- The same name is registered under a different extension (for example .net or .info) while you only own .nl or .com.
- The website shows ads, redirects to competitors, or is empty (a parking page) with an offer to sell.
- Someone actively contacts you to sell the domain name for a high price.
Regularly check which variants of your brand name are available or already registered. This can be done via a whois lookup or by manually searching common extensions and spellings.
Protecting your brand
The best protection against cybersquatting is prevention. In addition to your main domain, register the most relevant variants and extensions that fit your brand, so that bad actors have no chance. Redirect these to your main website, if desired, so visitors always end up in the right place.
Inventory your brand name
Determine which spellings, common typos, and extensions are relevant to your brand.
Register the most important variants
Immediately secure the most obvious variants via domain name registration, before someone else does.
Set up redirects
Have extra domain names automatically redirect to your main website, so they don’t become separate, confusing sites.
Monitor periodically
Regularly check whether new, suspicious registrations have appeared around your brand name.
What to do in case of a dispute
Has your brand name already been registered by someone else with bad intentions? First gather evidence: screenshots of the website, whois data of the owner, and any communication. Many extensions have a dispute resolution policy (for example the WIPO procedure for generic extensions or a similar scheme for country codes) that allows you to reclaim a domain name if you can prove you hold trademark rights and the registration was made in bad faith.
Also consider seeking legal advice from a specialized trademark agency, especially if it concerns an important company name. If you want to switch providers after a dispute, or if you’re simply unhappy with your current provider, you can easily do so via switching to Tandata, where domains and hosting are transferred smoothly.
For the technical management of your domain names, DNS settings, and redirects, you’ll find all the necessary options neatly organized in the Plesk panel of your web hosting. More explanation about specific settings can be found in the knowledge base.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is cybersquatting illegal?
Cybersquatting is not a separate criminal offense in all jurisdictions, but it can violate trademark law. Through dispute resolution policies or the courts, you can reclaim a domain name if misuse of your brand can be proven.
Do I need to register all extensions of my brand?
This isn’t always necessary, but be sure to register the extensions relevant to your market and the most obvious typos, to limit the risk of misuse.
Can I simply buy back a squatted domain name?
You can, but squatters often ask unreasonably high amounts. A dispute procedure is usually a better and cheaper route if you can prove trademark rights.
Does a registered trademark automatically protect me against squatting?
A registered trademark strengthens your position in a dispute, but doesn’t prevent someone from registering a domain name anyway. Proactively registering it yourself remains the most direct protection.
Conclusion
You can largely prevent domain squatting by registering relevant variants of your brand name yourself in time and periodically checking for suspicious registrations. If you do become a victim, gather evidence and make use of dispute resolution policies or legal advice. Manage your domain names and hosting in one clear place for optimal control.