Protect your Company’s Domain Names

• Posted by Geoffrey G. Gussis on February 4th, 2005


• Filed in Guides, Tips and Practice Pointers, IT/Software/Internet, Intellectual Property, Risk Management & Compliance

Check with your IT department to make sure that (1) your company’s domain names (e.g., inhouseblog.com) are "locked", (2) all information in each of the WHOIS records for your domain names are updated; and (3) you have renewed your domain names and that none will expire during the next twenty-four months.  It would also be a good idea to set up a tickler that will remind you to run through these steps periodically, especially if your company has a large number of domain names or regularly acquires new ones (e.g., new products, acquisitions of other companies, etc.).  These responsibilities may be best monitored by the individuals at your company who are responsible for periodic intellectual property filings (e.g., patent and trademark maintenance filings, etc.).  A little preventative maintenance can go a long way - and avoid the often arduous process of trying to get your domain names back from an unscrupulous third party.