Firm sues over Workforce.com domain name

Workforce Software lost a UDRP against Workforce.com earlier this year. Now it’s suing.

Workforce Software, LLC has filed a lawsuit (pdf) following failing to get the domain name Workforce.com in a UDRP.

The firm uses the domain name WorkforceSoftware.com. A human resources publication previously used Workforce.com. But another firm purchased the domain name last year and rebranded as Workforce.com. That firm competes with Workforce Software.

Workforce Software filed a UDRP earlier this year to try to get the Workforce.com domain name. It lost the case.

At the time, I wrote:

It will be interesting to see if Workforce Software takes this issue to the courts. While it’s not cybersquatting under UDRP, there might be a trademark issue. Then again, Workforce is a very generic word to use as a brand for workforce management software.

It’s interesting to read in the case that Workforce.com might have been the one that started this tiff. It filed a petition with the USPTO to cancel Workforce Software’s trademark registration for “Workforce Software” regarding a week ahead of Workforce Software filed the UDRP. But perhaps there was more going on behind the scenes.

Workforce Software argues that Workforce.com is cybersquatting and infringing on its trademarks.

This is the danger of not owning the “best” domain for your firm.