Company goes after two alleged cybersquatters.
[Update 4/13/12: Verizon won both cases.] Verizon has filed two separate cases with World Intellectual Property Organization concerning ten domain names that include the “Verizon” or “Vzw” and “iPhone” marks.
The first case is for the domain name verizoniphone4s.com. Interestingly, this domain name loads the Verizon Wireless page for iPhones. But it’s merely loading it in a frame.
The second case covers nine domain names registered by an Illinois man:
verizoniphone4.com
verizonwirelessiphone4.com
verizonwirelessiphone4g.com
verizonwirelessiphone5.com
verizonwireless4giphone.com
vzwiphone4.com
vzwiphone4g.com
vzwiphone5.com
vzw4giphone.com
Verizon is known for suing cybersquatters, but it also turns to domain arbitration as well. Last year it filed 14 cases under the uniform domain name dispute resolution policy (UDRP). It won all of them.
My guess is Verizon uses the courts when the numbers are big, the accused has a big pocketbook, and the domains are hidden through various proxy services. Otherwise it’s fine using UDRP.
Louise says
Get ’em, Verizon!
Andrew Allemann says
Verizon just won the cases.