Establishing Rights in a New Domain: Defining “Registration” Under the Acpa*
ESTABLISHING RIGHTS IN A NEW DOMAIN: DEFINING “REGISTRATION” UNDER THE ACPA* I. INTRODUCTION Domain names are a hot commodity. While many users type domain names into their search bars without any passing thought, the few words or phrases that precede a “.com” can be incredibly expensive and important assets. Despite costing only a few dollars to register,1 domain names have been sold for many millions of dollars. For example, VactionRentals.com was sold for $35 million,2 360.com for $17 million,3 insure.com for $16 million,4 and sex.com for $14 million.5 Aside from being a tangible asset, domain names also provide individuals and companies with identity and brand protection. For example, President Donald Trump has registered over 3,600 domain names—both positive domain names that protect him and his brand, like TrumpEmpire.com and TrumpBuilding.org; and negative domain names that protect him from them being used against him, like TrumpMustGo.com and NoMoreTrump.com.6 * Emily Litka, J.D. Candidate, Temple University Beasley School of Law, 2018. Many thanks to the Temple Law Review editorial board and staff for their invaluable insights and improvements to this Comment. A special thank you to my parents, Calvin and Linda, for their unwavering support and friendship—I could not have asked for a better team to be beside me throughout this journey. 1. See, e.g., GODADDY, http://www.godaddy.com/offers/ domains?isc=gofd2001aj&mkwid= s4sd4g57e_pcrid_226262874210_pkw_go%20daddy%20price_pmt_e_pdv_c_&aud=[brand]&gclid=EA IaIQobChMI9P2iqq-82AIVmrrACh2WDwHSEAAYASAAEgKC9fD_BwE [perma: http://perma.cc /PVW3-4P3K] (last visited May 30, 2018) (offering domain names for $0.99 a year); HOVER, http://www.hover.com/domain-pricing [perma: http://perma.cc/G87C-PW3L] (last visited May 30, 2018) (offering domain names from $9.99 to $49.00 a year); NAMECHEAP, http://www.namecheap.com/ domains.aspx [perma: http://perma.cc/9VXJ-B7JQ] (last visited May 30, 2018) (offering domain names for $0.48 a year).
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