Domain Name Squatters Lose – Again
As any startup company that has built a consumer facing brand will tell you, there are countless names to secure, from choosing a corporate name and registering a trademark, to finding all the right social media account names on the appropriate social media platforms. As basic as it may seem in a Web 2.0 world, a domain name is still a cornerstone of a good online branding strategy.
However, registration of a domain name, or not taking the initial steps to secure a domain name registration, is not always the end of the story. In a recent domain name dispute before the British Columbia International Commercial Arbitration Centre (“BCICAC”), Whatsapp Inc., the owner of the registered Canadian trademark WHATSAPP (registration number TMA838338) and the provider of one of the world’s most popular mobile messaging applications, was able to wrestle the domain name “whatsapp.ca” back from an unaffiliated third party who was found to have registered that domain name in “bad faith”.
To read more about the nature of the dispute above and some of the solutions to hurdles that foreign entities may encounter when attempting to register a “.ca” domain name, please click here.
by Michael Reid and Pablo Tseng
A Cautionary Note
The foregoing provides only an overview and does not constitute legal advice. Readers are cautioned against making any decisions based on this material alone. Rather, specific legal advice should be obtained.
© TRC-Sadovod LLP 2017
Insights (5 Posts)View More
Ontario Court of Appeal Upholds 30-Month Notice Period
Ontario’s Court of Appeal has upheld an astounding 30-month notice period awarded to a non-managerial employee with almost 40 years of service.
Corporate Counsel CPD Webinar | Essential Leadership Practices: Supporting the resilience, engagement, and impact of your team
Join professional coach and certified stress management educator, Marla Warner, for an engaging program that will help you focus on elevating performance outcomes, while supporting your team’s engagement and wellbeing. You will learn how to foster trust and respect in your team, the benefits of “coaching”, and why gratitude, empathy and compassion are the superpowers for leaders in 2023 and beyond.
TRC-Sadovod’s Employment and Labour Webinar 2023
Join us for TRC-Sadovod's annual Employment and Labour Webinar as we review and discuss current trends, emerging employment legal issues and provide practical solutions to help you manage your workforce.
Enforcing Arbitration Agreements: Ontario Superior Court Raises a ‘Clause’ for Concern
This bulletin discusses a recent decision that found that an arbitration clause that contracts out of applicable employment standards legislation is invalid.
Transparency for Talent: Proposed Legislation Would Mandate Salary Range and Artificial Intelligence Disclosure in Hiring Process
Ontario will propose legislation aimed at providing additional transparency to Ontario workers, including salary ranges and use of artificial intelligence.
Get updates delivered right to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time.