WIPO: Cybersquatting Hits Record

[Vorty]

The number of cybersquatting complaints reached a record in 2008, the World Intellectual Property Association reported Monday.
[...] About 85 percent of the cases favored those filing the complaint.

http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/200...ybersquat.html

[katherine]

It's the kind of headlines that is bound to wake up bored politicians

[Carter]

Another positive news

[DomainsInc]

I wouldn't say this is a bad thing really. It just means two things
-more domains are being regged
-more people are aware of their rights regarding domains

On the downside it also probably means that there is a good number of people attempting to take advantage of wipo system than before.

[Adam Dicker]

With as many domains as are registered that's not too bad.

They should compare it with the % the domains market has risen.

Usually it's newbies who have to learn the hard way what a TM is, but not always.

-=DCG=-

[PRED]

I'm amazed how few cases have been ever brought, and the annual rate is also low obviously in unison.
Admittedly there has been a sharpish rise, but that's just down to increased awareness of rights and the net in general, opportunism and of course the bottomfeeders themselves, the ambulance chasers, the lowest of the low, yes you guessed it, the 'lawyers'. Hawking their wares and no doubt hunting down infringements to take to their 'clients'

There's also the likes of the arse clown who paid mid xx,xxx for toyota.asia

[Yusio]

With as many domains as are registered that's not too bad.

They should compare it with the % the domains market has risen.

Usually it's newbies who have to learn the hard way what a TM is, but not always.

-=DCG=-

Exactly.. I'm sure it levels out with the % the domain market has risen.

[gingeman]

I blogged about this yesterday, as others have said, it is a shame it has not been compared publically with the overall rise in registrations, to put it into better context. I would love to know how many more cases of reverse hijacking have been seen, as the larger corporations become more aware that they might be able to claim something valuable for nothing- but I doubt anyone is too keen to fund research into those figures...

[dominator]

With as many domains as are registered that's not too bad.

They should compare it with the % the domains market has risen.

that was also my first reaction

in the u.s. the homicide rate is about 5.5/100,000 (population)

so the cybersquatter rate is much lower
and (almost) nobody gets hurt...

[HuntingMoon]

sensational headline.