{"id":4576,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:33","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/smallbusiness\/business-operations\/internet-cybersquatting-definition-and-remedies.html"},"modified":"2024-06-06T02:39:01","modified_gmt":"2024-06-06T07:39:01","slug":"internet-cybersquatting-definition-and-remedies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/business-operations\/internet-cybersquatting-definition-and-remedies.html","title":{"rendered":"What Is Cybersquatting?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n \n
\n

What Is Cybersquatting?<\/h1>\n
\n
\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Aviana Cooper, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n

Editorial Note: We earn a commission from affiliate partner links on FindLaw. Commissions do not affect the editorial integrity of our legal content.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n \n

\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

One type of crime small business owners seldom consider when setting up their business website is cybersquatting. Cybersquatting, also called domain squatting, involves using the domain name of an established business to lead users away from the legitimate company and to the squatter’s site. The squatter can also take the domain name hostage and force the owner to pay to get it back.<\/p>\r\n

Cybersquatting is a serious problem for large businesses, but as e-commerce becomes more popular, it can affect smaller companies too. Cybercriminals always look for ways to make money, and cybersquatting is profitable.<\/p>\r\n

Types of Cybersquatting<\/h2>\r\n

The Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA) is an amendment to the Lanham Act<\/a>. Cybersquatting is a subset of trademark infringement according to U.S. law. In legal terms, cyberthieves attempt to confuse buyers about the identity of the product or business with bad faith intent.<\/p>\r\n

The ACPA defines cybersquatting as the registration, sale, or use of a domain name that is identical or confusingly similar to another registered trademark or service mark, with the bad faith intent of profiting from the confusion. Most cybersquatting cases fall into four basic categories:<\/p>\r\n