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In a significant legal victory, design tools company Canva has emerged triumphant in a cybersquatting case involving a staggering 174 domain names. The dispute was filed with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in July 2023, and the registrars for these domains subsequently provided the registrant names. Interestingly, each of these domains had different owners.
However, Canva’s argument was compelling: despite the diverse ownership, the domains exhibited common control based on several factors. These included shared IP addresses, similar design, and consistent language used by many of the registrants in their responses to the cybersquatting complaint. The panel agreed that treating the domains as if they were all owned by one party was appropriate.
WIPO recently published its decision in favor of Canva, dating it to February 27. By leveraging the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP), Canva efficiently secured the return of these domains. Notably, the UDRP process is cost-effective, with WIPO charging $1,500 for cases involving 1 to 5 domains and $2,000 for cases involving 6 to 10 domains. For larger portfolios, WIPO negotiates directly with the complainant.
Canva’s success underscores the importance of protecting brand identity and safeguarding against cybersquatting. As fraudulent schemes continue to exploit brand names, companies like Canva demonstrate the effectiveness of legal mechanisms in reclaiming valuable digital assets.