Microsoft launches court action against cybersquatters

0 Comments | AFP, March, 2007

LONDON (AFP) — Microsoft, the world's biggest software company, is launching a string of court actions in the United States and Europe against cybersquatters, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.

Cybersquatting is the practice of using an internet domain name -- such as the misspelt "micrsoft.com" -- to profit from the popularity of another company's brand.

Many cybersquatters make money from web traffic which accidentally comes to their site from people looking for a well-known brand or by selling their domain name back to the trademark owner.

Microsoft is launching lawsuits in the US against companies which it claims have registered trademarks which infringe its intellectual property and also plans court actions in Britain, Germany and Italy, the FT...