- iGoldRush Domain News and Resources - https://www.igoldrush.com -

Lines Between Trademarks and Domains Blur

The Government of New Zealand, who was slow in registering newzealand.com, was instead forced pay $1 million to a US company who had already registered the domain. As the difference between domain names and trademarks blurs, New Zealand claimed the name was trademarked and filed a suit with the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO). WIPO weighed in on the dispute, stating that “New Zealand” did not qualify as a trademark and would have to pay for the name if they wanted it.