Court: Above.com May Be Responsible for Clients’ Domain Names

Judge sides with Verizon, settlement in doubt.

A federal district judge has dealt a blow to Above.com in a lawsuit brought against it by Verizon.

Chief United States District Judge Audrey Collins has denied Above.com’s motion to dismiss charges of contributory cybersquatting.

Above.com and the other defendants have accepted responsibility for registering and monetizing typos of Verizon’s brand names, but argued they shouldn’t be responsible for domain names owned by clients of Above.com who use its privacy services and monetization program.

The judge stated that Above.com could be liable for actions of its clients if it ought to have been aware of their activities. Verizon argued that the firm was aware of client use of its services for cybersquatting based on receiving over 100 UDRP notices (pdf).

At one point it looked like the parties were close to settling, but it appears the fight over Above.com’s responsibility for client domains remains and issue. The case will move forward.