Slipknot Fights to Reclaim Slipknot.com from Alleged Cybersquatter

Heavy metal band Slipknot is suing the alleged cybersquatter who registered the slipknot.com domain in 2001. The band alleges the anonymous party is using it in bad faith, violating US cybersquatting laws and infringing their trademarks.

The details:

• The unknown third party registered slipknot.com on 5 February 2001, forcing the band to use slipknot1.com.

• In its lawsuit, Slipknot states their logo was first registered with the US trademark registry in 2002, with the band beginning the process in 1999.

• As part of that process, it claims a ‘first use’ date of 4 April 1996.

• The band argues that when the unknown party registered slipknot.com in 2001, its name was already famous and the group was in the process of registering its logo.

• As a result, it claims, the registration of slipknot.com was intended to profit off the band’s brand.

Cybersquatting:

• As per Complete Music Update, owning a trademark in a specific name doesn’t give the owner the right to own that name “in the context of an internet domain.”

• However, the US Anti-cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act can offer protection to a trademark owner if it’s proved that a “third party registered and operates a domain that features the trademark in bad faith.”

• slipknot.com currently contains buttons linking off to ticketing websites and unofficial Slipknot merch.

• The band claims that the owner of the domain earns money from the operators of the linked sites.

• The owner is, the band states, facilitating “the sale of unauthorized and counterfeit Slipknot goods by third-party websites.”

• The lawsuit alleges the owner is violating the Anti-cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act by “using a domain name that is identical to the Slipknot mark with a bad faith to profit therefrom.”

The ask:

• Slipknot is seeking a court order transferring ownership of slipknot.com to the band.

• It is also suing for trademark infringement and unfair competition.