Google Wins Five YouTube Typo-Squatted Domains

youtube-logoGoogle has won a handful of domains with minor spelling differences from YouTube’s domain: youtbe.com, youtub.com, youtue.com, youube.com and yutube.com.

As Fusible.com reports, the five domains redirected users to visitorsurvey.com, a site that used YouTube’s legal marks while collecting personal information in exchange for “offers” such as gift cards from Best Buy and/or Visa. All five domains were owned by one individual and were registered in 2005.

In his decision for the National Arbitration Forum, Judge Harold Kalina ruled Thursday that the five domains met the three requirements to transfer the domains to Google under ICANN rules:

(1) The domain name registered by Respondent is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark or service mark in which Complainant has rights; and

(2) Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the domain name; and

(3) The domain name has been registered and is being used in bad faith.

Google filed its complaint in late November; the domain owner didn’t respond to the complaint.

As we wrote just a couple weeks ago, Google is one of the most oft-targeted companies when it comes to typosquatted domains.

Related Topics: Channel: Content Marketing | Domaining | Google: Legal


About The Author: is Editor-In-Chief of Marketing Land. His news career includes time spent in TV, radio, and print journalism. His web career continues to include a small number of SEO and social media consulting clients, as well as regular speaking engagements at marketing events around the US. He blogs at Small Business Search Marketing and can be found on Twitter at @MattMcGee and/or on Google Plus. You can read Matt's disclosures on his personal blog.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/shahul.ms Shahul Hameed

    I am unable to share this info using Facebook share button as the post contains blocked domain URL’s. Anyway I updated via status updates! Cool info thanks!

  • http://www.europeandomaincentre.com All Domains

    It was a clear cut case, however Google still has to go to the ordeal of paying legal fees etc. It still goes that it is easier to get the typo domains when you register your .com domain.

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