EUIPO strikes back: Bad-faith domain name euipp.com taken down

Even the EUIPO isn’t slipping through the net of typosquatting attacks - a practice where malicious actors register lookalike domains to mislead users, often for fraudulent or phishing purposes.

In a recent decision, the Czech Arbitration Court ruled in favour of the EUIPO, ordering the cancellation of the domain euipp.com in a UDRP (Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy) proceeding. The domain closely resembled the EUIPO’s official URL (euipo.europa.eu), replacing the letter “o” with a second “p” — a classic example of typosquatting, designed to trick users into visiting a fake or deceptive site.

The EUIPO successfully brought the complaint based on its European Union trade mark registration “EUIPO”, asserting prior rights and a clear risk of confusion. The Panel found that the domain had been registered in bad faith, with no legitimate purpose or interest. Its visual similarity to the official EUIPO site, combined with the absence of any good-faith justification, met the criteria for bad faith under the UDRP.

The Panel further concluded that the registrant’s intent was to deceive and redirect users, as evidenced by the fraudulent emails sent from the domain impersonating the EUIPO. By mimicking the Office’s identity, the respondent sought to exploit its reputation and mislead users into believing they were interacting with the legitimate EU institution. The domain was therefore ordered to be cancelled.

This case serves as a textbook example of how trade mark rights can be effectively used to combat online infringement. Typosquatting remains a significant threat, posing both reputational and cybersecurity risks. Domain name arbitration continues to be a swift and efficient tool for resolving such disputes. Whether you're a public institution or a private company, proactive monitoring of domain registrations and the enforcement of your IP rights are essential in safeguarding your brand’s integrity. 

In the digital age, IP protection doesn’t stop at trademarks — it extends all the way to your domain name! 

The ruling also underscores the strategic importance of connecting IP rights, such as trade marks, with related rights such as domain names as a tool for growth and sustainable development.

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