{"id":14783,"date":"2019-03-15T16:20:19","date_gmt":"2019-03-15T10:50:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterslice.com\/learning\/?p=14783"},"modified":"2023-07-06T20:52:33","modified_gmt":"2023-07-06T15:22:33","slug":"cybersquatting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enterslice.com\/learning\/cybersquatting\/","title":{"rendered":"What are Cybersquatting and Its Legal Position in India"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">Cybersquatting refers to the use, registration or sale of an already existing and well-established domain name and re-selling the same to the lawful owner at a profit. We are all aware that in contemporary times the online presence of business houses has become indispensable. Hence, almost every organization has its own domain name. At present, there are is no effective cyber law that deals with Cybersquatting in India. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/enterslice.com\/learning\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Cyber-Squatting-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14801\" width=\"100%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/enterslice.com\/learning\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Cyber-Squatting-1.png 872w, https:\/\/enterslice.com\/learning\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Cyber-Squatting-1-300x60.png 300w, https:\/\/enterslice.com\/learning\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Cyber-Squatting-1-768x154.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 872px) 100vw, 872px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is the Domain name?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In simple words, the domain name is the name of the website. Via domain name, users get access to the website of an organization. For example, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\" target=\"_blank\">www.facebook.com<\/a> is the domain name of Facebook. Due to high internet usage by users these days, the domain name becomes an integral part of the brand of any company. Therefore, it is necessary that domain name is <a href=\"https:\/\/enterslice.com\/trademark-registration\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"trademarked (opens in a new tab)\">trademarked<\/a> by the owner to avoid its misuse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Types of Cybersquatting\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many ways in which Cybersquatting may be practiced. However, the most common type of Cybersquatting is Typosquatting, which is done by manipulating the word-formation of the domain name. This way when the users make a typing mistake, they are directed to the substitute (fake) website by the cybersquatter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ways in which Typo squatting may be\npracticed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Removing the &ldquo;dot&rdquo; from the domain name. For eg: wwwmicrosoft.com<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Misspelled name of the website, like <strong><em>www.microsft.com<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Domain name phrased in a different manner, like microsoft.org<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Cybersquatting in the\nForm of Renewal Snatching<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Cybersquatting may also occur in the\nform of &ldquo;Renewal Snatching&rdquo;, which is a practice of registering a specific\ndomain name when the actual owner of the domain fails to renew the\nregistration. Since the registration of\nthe domain names lasts for a certain time period, the owner is required to get\nthe same renewed upon the expiration of the registration.\nThe domain name can be purchased by anybody if it is not re-registered before\nexpiry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The cybersquatters can purchase a\ndomain name upon the expiry of its registration and then re-sell the same to\nthe original owner at a higher price. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"form-blog-2\">\n\n<h2>Fintech Report 2020<\/h2>\n\n<p>Complete Overview of the World Fintech Industry<span class=\"text-orange\"><strong><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n<a class=\"btn-callback-blog input-tr-blog mt-3\" href=\"https:\/\/enterslice.com\/learning\/wp-content\/uploads\/ebook\/fintech-report-2020.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Download<\/a>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Legal Position of Cybersquatting in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Till date, India does not have a\nfull-fledged cyber law on domain name protection. The cases are of\ncybersquatting are dealt under the Trademark Act, 1999.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the case of <strong>Satyam Infoway Ltd v. Sifynet Solutions Pvt Ltd<\/strong>.<sup>2<\/sup>, it was\nobserved by the Hon&rsquo;ble Supreme Court that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>&ldquo;As far as India is concerned, there is no legislation which explicitly\nrefers to dispute resolution in connection with domain names. But although the\noperation of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 itself is not extraterritorial and may\nnot allow for adequate protection of domain names, this does not mean that\ndomain names are not to be legally protected to the extent possible under the\nlaws relating to passing off&rdquo;.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Options\navailable to Victims of Cybersquatting in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>The trial in a\nDistrict or High Court<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Arbitration\nunder ICANN&rsquo;s (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) rules<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sending\nof cease-and-desist letters to cyber squatters<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Dispute Resolution in\ncases of Cybersquatting<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Disputes pertaining to domain name may\nbe resolved under UDRP (on an international\nlevel) or INDRP (national level). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>UDRP<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Disputes such as Cybersquatting that involve illegal\/ bad- faith\nregistrations of domain names are resolved via the Uniform Domain Name Dispute\nResolution Policy (UDRP) process that has been made by the ICANN. As per the\nguidelines of UDRP in context of Cybersquatting, at the time of registration of\na domain name, the applicant gives his agreement to submit to proceedings in\ncase they are initiated under the UDRP of ICANN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the leading ICANN accredited\ndomain name dispute resolution service provider is WIPO, which was established\nfor the protection, distribution, and usage\nof intellectual <a class=\"glossaryLink\"  aria-describedby=\"tt\"  data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;Property&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;Property refers to the legal designation of ownership over valuable items or assets held by an individual or a business. This ownership grants the holder certain legal rights to use, consume,(...)&lt;\/div&gt;\"  href=\"https:\/\/enterslice.com\/learning\/terms\/property\/\"  data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>property<\/a> across the world. India is one of the 171-member\nnations of WIPO. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p><p>A complaint may be brought by an individual\/organization before the administrative dispute resolution service providers if:\n<\/p><p>1. A domain name is identical or similar to the trademark in which the complainant has rights<\/p> <p>2. The owner of the domain has no direct or legitimate interest in the domain name<\/p> <p>3. The domain name has been registered and is being used illegally or in bad faith<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>INDRP<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>India has now established its own\ndispute resolution forum by the name of INRegistry, which is under the\nauthority of National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI). Under this, the domain\nname disputes are resolved under the.IN\nDispute Resolution Policy (INDRP). This policy has been made in consonance with\nthe internationally accepted guidelines and as per the Information Technology\nAct, 2000. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For resolving the disputes, the\nprocedural rules of INDRP are followed, which contain a detailed explanation on the filing\nof the complaint, fees payment, mode of\ncommunication, and other relevant aspects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Reliefs available to\nvictims of Cybersquatting in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There is no specific cyber law in India\nthat deals with the practice of cybersquatting. However, the Indian Courts have\ndealt with these cases under the Trademarks Act, 1991. Under this Act, two\nkinds of reliefs are available to the aggrieved:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The remedy of infringement<\/strong>: This includes civil remedies (such as injunction damages, account profit), criminal remedies (such as the imprisonment of the accused) and administrative remedies (such as a ban on import of infringing copies). This remedy shall be available under the Trademark Act only if the domain name has been registered by the real owner under this Act.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The remedy of Passing Off<\/strong>: This includes the application of injunction by the real owner for prevention of usage of the domain name by any other individual or entity. If the aggrieved want this relief, no prior registration of the domain name is required. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Need for Stringent\nCyber Laws in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>At present, there is an immediate need for clear and stringent cyber laws in India since e-commerce has become the need of the hour for every business. With increasing online business activities, the chances of cyber-crime have also increase manifold. A well-formulated <a href=\"https:\/\/enterslice.com\/learning\/cyber-law-in-india\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">cyber law<\/a> that resolves the problems of actual owners of domain names is required. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The law should be such that it becomes\neasy for the aggrieved party to get the compensation for the damages that are\nsuffered due to the registration of the\ndomain name in bad faith. The provisions related to the punishment of the\nonline perpetrators should be included so that online crimes can be reduced. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For any other queries related to\nCybersquatting, cyber laws or cyber-crimes, contact us at <a href=\"https:\/\/enterslice.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">www.enterslice.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cybersquatting refers to the use, registration or sale of an already existing and well-established domain name and re-selling the same to the lawful owner at a profit. We are all aware that in contemporary times the online presence of business houses has become indispensable. Hence, almost every organization has its own domain name. At present, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":14787,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1651],"tags":[2483],"acf":{"service_id":"69"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v14.6.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What are Cybersquatting and Its Legal Position in India: Enterslice<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Almost every organization has its own domain name. 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