Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday: detect abusive domain name registrations and act quickly

Each year, the Black Friday / Cyber ​​Monday event is accompanied by multiple and heterolytic cyber threats, including cybersquatting and typosquatting. In this regard, the simple creation of a domain name is not an end in itself, so strong are the greedy inclinations. In a matter of hours or even minutes, the domain name holder would be able to create a website similar enough to that of a well-known trademark to confuse consumers and deceive them through phishing, counterfeiting or fraud. any other type of fraud.

The most expeditious solution remains the extrajudicial procedure. For example, WIPO Procedure D2018-2758 speaks volumes. It concerned domain names , and . The cybersquatter had registered these domain names on November 22 and 23, 2018, exactly in the Black Friday / Cyber ​​Monday period. Using a website creation platform (in this case Wix), the cybersquatter immediately published a site similar to the famous Galeries Lafayette and capable of collecting banking data. Moreover, to increase traffic, he also created a fake Twitter account (WIPO, D2018-2758, Société Anonyme des Galeries Lafayette c. Perfect Privacy, LLC / Ylliass Aaziz, Yamin Ouarti, April 8, 2019; in the same vein: WIPO, D2017-0547, Moncler SpA vs. Trani Johanna, new beta version, May 23, 2017; WIPO, D2019-0191, Air France company c. Private Registration, Domains By Proxy, LLC / albuquerque Albuquerque, hwuaye, March 25, 2019, to refer only to cases related to Black Friday because the situation is the same regardless of the event concerned: Christmas, Valentine’s Day, etc.).

In such a situation, the trademark owner must be able to respond quickly, the facts being susceptible to criminal qualification. At all times, reaction time is essential. Because every day counts, it is recommended that you opt for domain name monitoring plus daily alerts and maintain a team of lawyers ready to respond without delay.