A brand's online presence is now as important as its physical presence. Common problems include domain names registered by third parties to sell back to the brand owner or to divert traffic, fake social media accounts that impersonate businesses or executives, fraudulent websites used for scams, and counterfeit listings on marketplaces.
Domain name disputes
- .ng domains: domain names under the .ng country code are managed by the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), which has a dispute resolution policy for abusive registrations
- Generic domains: disputes over .com and other generic domains can be resolved under the Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (UDRP), through providers such as WIPO
To succeed, a complainant generally needs to show that the domain is identical or confusingly similar to its trademark, that the registrant has no rights or legitimate interests in it, and that it was registered and used in bad faith. Registered trademarks significantly strengthen a complaint.
Social media and platform takedowns
We submit takedown and impersonation reports to social media platforms, marketplaces and hosting providers based on trademark, copyright and impersonation policies, and escalate where initial reports are refused.
Fraud and impersonation
Where fake websites or accounts are used to defraud customers, we act quickly to have them removed, preserve evidence and, where appropriate, work with law enforcement under the Cybercrimes Act. We also help businesses communicate with customers to limit damage.
How we assist
- Domain name recovery through NiRA and UDRP proceedings
- Negotiated domain acquisitions where litigation is not cost-effective
- Online monitoring of brand misuse
- Takedowns of infringing content and impersonating accounts
- Coordinated action with anti-counterfeiting strategies
- Domain name portfolio strategy for new brands and markets
Prevention
We advise businesses to register key domain names and social media handles early, register their trademarks, and monitor for misuse, so that problems can be stopped before they escalate.
