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Username: arbitrage
Date/Time: Wed, November 21, 2001 at 3:03 AM GMT
Browser: Microsoft Internet Explorer V6.0 using Windows 98
Subject: .INFO Sunrise Scam II - Domain TM Laundering

Message:
 

 
.INFO Sunrise Challengers Are Registering Challenged Domains Without Trademarks! Is this the next chapter in the great .INFO debacle?

Despite the written sunrise challenge policies, which allow transfer of a domain name to a successful challenger only under the sunrise rules (i.e. with a registered trademark), some challengers have managed to skirt the requirements and obtain ownership of domain names without entering any trademark information.

Case in point, RETIREMENT.INFO.  This domain was first registered during the sunrise period, and HAD trademark details listed in the Afilias WHOIS.  Then it was challenged, and transfer was awarded by WIPO to the challenger. Now the WHOIS shows no trademark information, apparently making it impossible for anyone to challenge the challenger's registration.

What this seems to mean is that for the price of a sunrise challenge, a fraudulent sunrise registration can be "laundered" to remove all trademark information, possibly protecting it from future action.

Anyone know of any other cases? (Interestingly, the WHOIS record for RETIREMENT.INFO still has the July registration date, but has a sixth year added to the registration term.  This may be a way to identify laundered domains.)

 


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