[...] number of total .com domains registered — fell to about 1 in 22,000 domain names, the lowest ever recorded since the introduction of [...]

The data you provided is what has been reported to UDRP. To come to the conclusion that cybersquatting is down is a long shot at validating when you look at all the facts IMO.

Fact 1: 99% of trademark domains and typos are registered already. You can’t register what is not available.

Fact 2: The majority of trademark giants already own their domains or previously went through the UDRP or WIPO to gain control of their domains.

Fact 3: Only a small percentage of Trademark holders own their TM domains and TM typos. Maybe 2-3%?

Fact 4: 99% of domain TM typos not owned by TM Holders are owned by cybersquatters cashing in on typein traffic. Their goal is not to sell the domains, but benefit from traffic to earn PPC revenue.

Fact 5: A large percentage of Trademark holders only own their domain. The majority of TM holders (Medium to Small Businesses)could care less about typo domains, or do not understand the value on how typo domains can reenforce and protect their brands.

Fact 6: This is a result of lower UDRP filings each year by TM holders. Once these TM Owners are educated on how these typos take away value from their brands, UDRP and WIPO cases will sky rocket. Additionally, when the economy rebounds as well.

Fact 7: The amount of cybersquatters is still astronomical when you look at all the TM typos that have not been challenged by the TM Holder.

Fact 8: The cost of filing a WIPO or UDRP against a cybersquatter will always be some sort of deterant from the owners going after TM typos when they already own the domain.

I believe the title should have read UDRP filings down when compared to domain registration growth.

Every once in a while, I do a TM typo by accident and it takes me to a parked page and cybersquatter. Latest example: http://www.bulkregster.com. I ask myself, how could this company who is in the domain industry allow this cybersquatting to take place? If they are letting it slide and are educated on the subject, you can bet large, medium and small business TM Holders are lost in the sauce.

Only my opinion.

Thanks,
Steve

I misunderstood the article as “cybersquatting is on a decline”. In which case, probably still is a bit, but definitely not possible to determine based on UDRP filings.

Nothing like a well-reasoned rebuttal…