UK iPhone launch faces cybersquatting row

by Alex Donohue Brand Republic 26-Sep-07, 12:45

LONDON - The hotly anticipated November UK launch of the Apple iPhone could be marred by the emergence of a cybersquatting row involving the registration of key O2 and Apple domain names bearing no association to either brand.

Domain names with no affiliation to Apple iPhone or O2, which were set up by cybersquatters prior to O2 being awarded the UK operator contract earlier this month, threaten to undermine the UK launch of the iPhone by misleading consumers into accessing websites offering pay-per -click advertising.

The domain names, which include o2iphone.co.uk and o2iphone.net, bear no connection to O2 or Apple, which only intends to sell iPhone products in the UK via O2, Apple, and Carphone Warehouse stores and their associated online outlets from November 9.

In addition, one of the domain names registered by cybersquatters, ukiphone.co.uk, offers misdirected consumers deals to unlock non-UK iPhones, and links through to a website called iphonessuck.com, encouraging visitors to criticise the product.

The cybersquatting problem threatens to mislead consumers into accessing websites that are not endorsed by either O2 or Apple, and could potentially damage each brand's online image in the run-up to the iPhone's UK launch.

The product, which debuted in the US on June 29, has proved a hit with American consumers to date but is vulnerable to hackers, according to US software security firm Security Evaluators, which said that the product faced risks from technology crime.

Jonathan Robinson, chief operating officer at domain registration company NetNames, said: "The iPhone launch is one of the biggest product launches of 2007 and has been just as eagerly anticipated by cyber squatters as it has by consumers.

"Cyber squatters have spent a great deal of time over the past few months securing as many iPhone and operator domain name combinations as possible based on speculation about the launch.

"Online reputation is the utmost importance to major international technology brands, yet many still overlook the threat from cyber squatters, leaving their online reputations open to an untold amount of damage."

Apple and O2 could not be reached for comment at the time of going to press.

Comments

Chris Dane - 27/09/2007

It is hard to believe these two brands overlooked this problem. Put 'o2 iphone' into google and you can find many more sites offering 'great deals' and 'click here to buy' offers. What exactly is the solution? Register and lock down every conceivable domain? If there is an easy solution, or even a complicated one - maybe you or Mr Robinson could enlighten us? Surely there comes a point where - rather like real life crime - consumers must be responsible for their own safety.

Alex Donohue - 27/09/2007

Perhaps domain names are too easily registered in circumstances where there isn't a credible (or non-malicious) reason. What kind of checks, if any, are put in place?

Mark Bridge - 05/10/2007

Is this really news? I can't imagine many people typing o2iphone.net into their web browser as a guess. And the affected companies can take legal action against trademark infringement or "registering in bad faith" if they want. Anyway, I'm off to register my new invention - the o2i phone.