Ways You Might Be Breaking the Law (With Your Tech)
8. Cybersquatting
A guy named John Smith, probably can't sue the owners of johnsmith.com. But the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act allows owners of unique names-especially ones protected by trademark-to sue you for registering a URL based on their name. However, they have to prove that you did it for financial gain – such as to sell it to them for a ransom – or that you are trying to confuse Web surfers and steer them to you site (for example, registering amazn.com). Creating a parody Web site generally is allowed, as long as it's obvious that you are making fun of, and not impersonating, the actual site. In 2001, for example, courts ruled that registering peta.org for a site called "People Eating Tasty Animals" was going too far.
Related Articles From Switched
- Biggest Tech 'Cults'
8 days ago
- 17 Ways You Might Be Breaking the Law (With Your Tech)
8 days ago
- 16 Biggest Tech No-Nos
43 days ago
Add your comments