Global Cyberpiracy Can Be Thwarted With Proactive Strategy to Protect Trademarks and Domain Names, Wolf Greenfield Lawyer Writes.

Business Editors

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 30, 2003

Global cypberpirates have gotten bolder, stealing trademarks and domain names worldwide, but they can be thwarted.

Corporate identity is more vulnerable than ever before because of the Internet, and companies must take proactive steps to protect their trademarks, domains and good name Douglas R. Wolf, a lawyer with Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks, P.C., writes in the December issue of Global eCommerce Law & Business Report.

"Whether you are trying to obtain a trademark registration in Japan or fighting for common law rights in the US, there are several basic strategies that should be undertaken to keep your portfolio or trademarks, including domain names, strong," Wolf writes.

Wolf's guidelines in "Is Your Corporate Identity at Risk? How to Proactively Protect Your Trademarks, Domains, and Good Name" include:

-- Start off strong. Most countries subscribe to the theory that unusual or strong marks are afforded more protection than weak marks.

-- Register, register, register. Obtaining registrations in key countries.

-- "Spy." "Monitoring the Web, registration databases, and various directories can be the most efficient and cost-effective way to protect your portfolio. Contacting a potential infringer before any serious amount of money has been spent building a product, service, or brand makes dropping a mark from them much easier."

-- Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Local representatives and distributors can be the main source of problems in international business, so register your trademarks and domains before you enter the country or select the local representative or distributor.

-- Think before you sue. While it's much cheaper to sue an infringer in other countries, avoid litigation whenever possible because the results can't be guaranteed. When you can't avoid litigation, select your counsel carefully.

Douglas Wolf is a shareholder and co-chair of the Trademark Group at Boston-based Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks, P.C., (www.wolfgreenfield.com), one of the most experienced law firms devoted to the practice of intellectual property law, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and related litigation. He can be reached at 617.573.7860 or [e-mail].

Global eCommerce Law & Business Report, a monthly report covering all legal and regulatory aspects of e-commerce and Internet business including tax issues, order fulfillment, electronic security, encryption, overseas liability, intellectual property and new marketing alliances, is published by World Trade Executive (www.wtexec.com).