Legal Question in Intellectual Property in California

Domain Name Dispute

I've owned and operated a Domain

name of an artist for 4 years. The

artist has now forbidden me from

selling his art with this domain name

and demands that I turn it back over

to him for his own use to sell the art.

I have spent $100,000 promoting

the website. He states that I am

cyber squatting.


Asked on 8/31/08, 3:57 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
William Hochberg Law Offices of William Hochberg

Re: Domain Name Dispute

If you have a contract with the artist -- written or oral with good backup -- he will have a difficult time proving cyber squatting. If you have spent that kind of money and can document it, you may have a basis for continued use and/or reimbursement. Cybersquatting seems inappropriate for this kind of situation, although he may have a case for an assignment of the site to him. In any event, it will turn on the specific facts of your case.

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Answered on 8/31/08, 11:44 pm
Daniel Bakondi The Law Office of Daniel Bakondi

Re: Domain Name Dispute

This is one of those situations where whether you have a lawyer or not may make a big difference, for instance, if you want to sell this domain to him.

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Answered on 9/01/08, 11:59 am


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