Ninth Circuit clarifies the ACPA’s reach

Description

Abstract: The Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA) prohibits cybersquatters from registering domain names that are identical or confusingly similar to registered marks that are distinctive at the time of registration. But does the term “registration” include re-registration? That was the position of a plaintiff who noted that an alleged cybersquatter had re-registered its domain name after the plaintiff’s similar-sounding service mark had become distinctive. This article discusses the court’s opinion. Citation: GoPets Ltd. v. Hise, Nos. 08-56110, 08-56112, 08-56114, Sept. 22, 2011 (9th Cir.)