By Jasmine Gavigan
Trademark Clerk | Perry + Currier Inc. | Currier + Kao LLP
www.pckip.com | @pckip

As of June 1, 2015, the sunrise period for registered trademark owners to purchase one of the new .sucks domains will end, and the ability for anyone to register a .sucks domain will begin. Many companies have already purchased a domain through the administrator, Vox Populi, Ltd., who say the domains are a “central town square… designed to help consumers find their voices and allow companies to find the value in criticism”.

Value isn’t necessarily something that comes to mind, noting the $2,499 USD fee to trademark holders to reserve a domain in the sunrise period. That price will drop to $249 on June 1st, allowing anyone to register the available word string of their choice. The high price of combatting malicious cybersquatting hasn’t stopped companies such as Apple and Citigroup, and some celebrities like Taylor Swift and Kevin Spacey from registering their brands with .sucks as a defense against internet trolls.

For information on defending your brand from cyber squatters and enforcing your trademark rights online, contact Andrew Currier.