The Edmonton Oilers have successfully resolved a cybersquatting dispute involving the domain eBmontonoilers, which was being used to perpetrate invoice fraud.
In a recent decision by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the hockey club argued that the domain’s registrant was engaged in cybersquatting by using a name confusingly similar to the team’s official domain, EdmontonOilers.com.
The team alleged that the registrant created email addresses using eBmontonoilers.com to send fraudulent emails, attempting to deceive the Oilers’ corporate partners into transferring funds to the scammer. This scheme, known as invoice fraud, involves tricking organizations into redirecting payments meant for a legitimate business.
The registrant’s registration of the domain under the name “Accounts Receivable, edmonstonoilers” further supported the Oilers’ claim. The panelist noted that this registration detail aligned with the fraudulent intent, adding weight to the team’s argument.
The respondent did not contest the dispute, leading the WIPO panel to rule in favor of the Oilers. The domain will be transferred to the hockey club as a result of the decision.
Greenberg Traurig, LLP represented the Edmonton Oilers in the dispute.
You Might Be Interested In
