Crypto firm defeats Deloitte in cybersquatting dispute

Domain owner wins but is rebranding its business anyway.

The initialism UDRP for "uniform domain name dispute resolution policy" in black and blue on a black and blue background

A cryptocurrency firm has successfully defended its domain name in a cybersquatting case brought by Deloitte Tax & Consulting.

Deloitte offers a Know Your Client service branded as DKYC.

Penultimate Media Systems registered DontKYC .com for the opposite use: cryptocurrency services that promise anonymity.

Deloitte seemed to be upset that the domain owner abbreviated its service as DKYC on its website.

World Intellectual Property Organization Panelist Adam Taylor determined that Deloitte failed to show that the domain owner registered and used the domain in bad faith. The domain owner stated it wasn’t aware of Deloitte’s trademark and was not targeting them. This makes sense, given its use of the domain name.

It seems that the UDRP spooked the domain owner, though. A message on the website states the firm is rebranding as ShadowFI.

I’m sure financial regulators will have fun with this business.

Also on the wire