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BlackRock files cybersquatting lawsuit

BlackRock files cybersquatting lawsuit

Sizable finance firm seeks to recover 49 domain names.

Paper with "Lawsuit" at the top and "Trademark Lawsuit"

Financial services firm BlackRock (NYSE: BLK) has filed a cybersquatting lawsuit (pdf) against 49 domain names that it alleges infringe its trademarks.

The firm filed the in rem lawsuit in the Eastern District of Virginia, where both the .com registry, Verisign, and the .org registry, Public Interest Registry, are located.

As stated by the lawsuit, some of the domains are being used for scams, and others are listed for sale. One domain forwards to a page offering cryptocurrency trading using the BlackRock name.

Some of the domains named in the lawsuit are BlaccRock .com, BitcoinBlackRock .com, and BlackR0ck .com (with a zero replacing the letter o).

BlackRock used a similar lawsuit last year to recover other domain names.

Wiley Rein LLP is representing BlackRock.

Also on the wire

Other reporting from the domain desk.