Tamiflu maker files for arbitration to get swine flu domain names.
Roche, maker of flu medicine Tamiflu, has filed two separate arbitration cases with World Intellectual Property Organization to get domain names related to its brand that are taking advantage of the swine flu outbreak.
The first case is for swineflutamiflu.com and tamifluswineflu.com. Both domain names were registered last month by eComplex Corporation in Chicago. The domain names are parked.
The second case is for swine-flu-tamiflu.com and tamiflu-swine-flu.com. These domain names are owned by a Florida man who is using them for lead capture. The web site at these two domain names reads in part:
Tamiflu and Relenza are both in extemely short supply in most parts of the United States, UK, and Europe. Many conspiracy theorists speculate that this is because of government foreknowledge and the result of some sort of devious plan, but it’s most likely due to the recent Avian flu scare and leftover shortages from that Pandemic.
We currently offer 2 sources for Tamiflu and Relenza, both of which can be ordered online and shipped directly to your door, often within merely days. If you are interested in purchasing Tamiflu or Relenza for Swine Flu today, please contact us using the form below, and we’ll respond to your inquiries as fast as possible.
Domain Investor says
I can understand domainers owning generic domains that some might consider TMs. And, having to defend themselves from udrp.
But, the 4 examples you list are cybersquatters.
Just about everyone in our industry knows better. But, a few domainers tarnish the rest of us.
Johnny says
Total cybersquatters. True, these guys make us all look bad. We should call them out as Andrew has.
It would appear that it is Shakeel Aslam of eComplex Corportation is one of the cybersquatters tarnishing this industry.
Paul...aka Has2hands says
Good luck Roche!
D says
“few domainers tarnish the rest of us”
Dude even if there would be no typosquatters people would still hate you.
biggerproblems says
While this is obviously a bad spot on the industry we have much bigger problems with perception. The .cm domain registry run by agoga is the above problem x 100000.
http://Honda.cm
http://Ford.cm , Toyota.cm etc….
they have cleaned up many major names and they just resolve to a blank agoga page.
WaltDisney.cm
Disney.cm goes to a blank sedo page.
TommyHilfiger.cm is providing links to Kenneth Cole merchandise. not good.
If the larger players in the industry continue to propagate this crap we are screwed.
imho
Best!
Gerry says
Stupid is what stupid does.
5onny says
I made sure that 2 of the domains where banned from our system. And tamiflu has been added to our banned/tm list.
Donny
M. Menius says
Cybersquatters. Shameful.
D says
Cybersquatter = EVERYONE who registers domains for speculation (parking, resell).
Typosquatter = the one who registers typos.
And I am always amazed with the animosity against typosquatters while the domain market is liquid with typosquatters money and all the biggest portfolios were built on typosquatting (except Frank perhaps, he had some in the past but never was targeting it).
Andrew Allemann says
@ D – I’m sure most people here would disagree with your definition of cybersquatter.
george says
What’s wrong with speculating on domain names if some one thinks it up and purchases it to resell? People buy things like stocks all the time hoping to sell it for a gain. Examples: pizza.com sold for 2.6 million dollars. I wish I had that one.
Andrew Allemann says
@George – the difference is Tamiflu is a trademark. Pizza isn’t.
Pommy Singh says
I agree with others who say that these cases give domaining a bad name, especially in these times. Thats really swimming against the tide of opinion.
I had thought this was a story about generic names being regged, eg http://healthscare.com or http://swineflu.com – oh well…
Ms Domainer says
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Look, D, buying generic domains is NOT cybersquatting.
If I buy property for sale on the open market and do not develop it, does that make me a squatter?
Of course not! A squatter is someone who moves into a property that rightfully belongs to someone else.
A cybersquatter moves in and regs a TM ot typo domain, a TM that belongs to someone else. Please keep your definitions straight; domaining done right is a respectable business.
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Pubdomains says
Registering TM domain names is in any case a violation and Roche would win both cases in WIPO easily.