A recent case involving the UK travel company Cloud Travel has drawn attention to the issue of reverse domain name hijacking. The company attempted to gain control of the domain CloudTravel.co.uk, despite the fact that they had previously registered CloudTravelS.co.uk for their business, as the singular version was already taken.
In 2021, Cloud Travel proposed a $500 purchase for the desired domain, but this offer fell short of the domain owner’s asking price of $2,000. Undeterred, they raised their offer to $1,000 earlier this year before resorting to a cybersquatting dispute.
The Nominet Dispute Resolution Service (DRS) panel, which adjudicated the case, found Cloud Travel’s actions to fall under “Plan B” reverse domain name hijacking. This form of hijacking occurs when a company files a cybersquatting complaint after being unable to secure a domain via negotiation. The complaint was criticized for being chaotic and unprofessional; the panelist noted that some exhibits referenced were missing, suggesting a lack of proper review.
Cloud Travel argued that there could be confusion between their business name and the singular domain, which could be true. However, the panel determined that this alone did not constitute cybersquatting from the domain owner’s perspective. The outcome highlights the complexities of domain disputes and the importance of adequate negotiation before resorting to legal means.
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