Trademark Lawyers are calling the latest wave of ‘name scalpers’ extortionists, as the number of trademarked domain names increases. Squatting on the names, and holding them ransom for hundreds of thousands of dollars, electronic brokers are holding their ground, claiming the first-come / first-serve rule applies. But in 1996, Congress passed the Trademark Dilution Act, hoping to stop domain name sales that resemble company trademarks. To date, local and district courts are currently handling 20 different domain name disputes.