Microsoft Corp. is cracking down on a certain kind of copycat known as a “cybersquatter.”

Cybersquatters are individuals who register domain names similar to well-known domains, often containing trademarked terms or misspelled words–for example www.microsfot.com. The cybersquatters' goal is to profit from directing traffic to their sites using the domain names.

Microsoft has filed two civil lawsuits against four named defendants who are allegedly profiting from domain names that infringe on the company's trademarks. In its suits, Microsoft cites the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act, a 1999 law that imposes civil liabilities of up to $100,000 in statutory damages for anyone who, with a bad-faith intent to profit, registers a domain name that is identical to, confusingly similar to or dilutive of an existing trademark.

In a press release, Microsoft said such incidents of cybersquatting cause, “potential confusion for visitors to Microsoft's legitimate Web sites and illegal profiteering through the misuse of Microsoft's intellectual property.”

Sites under scrutiny include “freehotmail.net,” “gamesonxbox.com” and “microsoftofficehome.info.”

Microsoft plans to expand its pre-existing Domain Defense Program to incorporate the new Internet enforcement initiative. As part of the initiative, Microsoft will file subpoenas to unmask anonymous registrants and closely monitor online auctions for infringing domain names.

Microsoft reports that on average cybersquatters register 2,000 domain names that contain the company's trademark terms daily. It is estimated that at least 90 percent of all domain registrations containing Microsoft trademarks are the product of cybersquatters.

Microsoft Corp. is cracking down on a certain kind of copycat known as a “cybersquatter.”

Cybersquatters are individuals who register domain names similar to well-known domains, often containing trademarked terms or misspelled words–for example www.microsfot.com. The cybersquatters' goal is to profit from directing traffic to their sites using the domain names.

Microsoft has filed two civil lawsuits against four named defendants who are allegedly profiting from domain names that infringe on the company's trademarks. In its suits, Microsoft cites the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act, a 1999 law that imposes civil liabilities of up to $100,000 in statutory damages for anyone who, with a bad-faith intent to profit, registers a domain name that is identical to, confusingly similar to or dilutive of an existing trademark.

In a press release, Microsoft said such incidents of cybersquatting cause, “potential confusion for visitors to Microsoft's legitimate Web sites and illegal profiteering through the misuse of Microsoft's intellectual property.”

Sites under scrutiny include “freehotmail.net,” “gamesonxbox.com” and “microsoftofficehome.info.”

Microsoft plans to expand its pre-existing Domain Defense Program to incorporate the new Internet enforcement initiative. As part of the initiative, Microsoft will file subpoenas to unmask anonymous registrants and closely monitor online auctions for infringing domain names.

Microsoft reports that on average cybersquatters register 2,000 domain names that contain the company's trademark terms daily. It is estimated that at least 90 percent of all domain registrations containing Microsoft trademarks are the product of cybersquatters.