Gets Its Name Back — Silicon Labs

Billion dollar firm let domain name expire, but wins it back in arbitration.

Last month Reglike wrote regarding Silicon Labs (NASDAQ: SLAB), a billion dollar firm that let the domain name SiliconLabs.com expire. (The firm’s web site is at SIlabs.com).

Silicon Labs filed for arbitration at National Arbitration Forum. This stretch an arbitration panel awarded the domain name back to the firm, and the name ought to be transferred within the next few days.

This case was easy to decide. The domain owner had a parking page full of links to Silicon Labs’ competitors and he didn’t even bother to respond to the case.

But consider how much this oversight has cost the firm. It could have renewed the domain for $10; instead its tab is much higher:

-$1,300 fee to National Arbitration Panel
-Legal fees of regarding $5,000
-Loss of the highly trafficked domain name for two months

Obviously the loss of the domain name is the most expensive part of this ordeal, but it’s hard to put a dollar figure on it.