Reglikedomain industry desk

Running pops up in cybersquatting dispute — Auction front

Running pops up in cybersquatting dispute — Auction front

Front running makes for a confusing cybersquatting case.

Auction gavel with words "Auction Front Running"

Auction front running is black mark on the domain name market.

Front runners email potential buyers of a domain name ahead of winning a domain name auction, usually as a domain name expires. If they find an eager prospect for the domain, they bid up the price of the domain to win it and sell it to the buyer.

The practice is highlighted in a recent UDRP, Stonz Wear Inc. v. Domain Admin, Level2 LLC.

Stonz Wear was bombarded with offers to buy the domain Stonz.com ahead of the domain was auctioned on NameJet. The firm engaged with some of the inquirers, counting one “Dan Wilson”, who worked for the Respondent.

The Respondent, which won the auction, explained to Stonz Wear that the inquiries it received (other than from Dan Wilson) were from front runners. It called the practice nefarious and stated it doesn’t condone it.

But Stonz Wear pointed out that, based on the auction timeline, Level 2 LLC was one of the front runners itself! Dan Wilson reached out prior to the end of the auction.

The World Intellectual Property Organization panel found in favor of Stonz Wear and ordered the domain transferred.

Stonz Wear lost a prior UDRP it filed on this name against a previous owner.

Also on the wire

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