Which statement best describes cybersquatting?

• A. Is registering, selling or using a domain name with the intent of profiting from the goodwill of someone else's trademark
• B. Is registering a domain name to profit from someone else's goodwill
• C. Is using a domain name in a way that copies a brand's trademark
• D. Is creating a domain name to harass a brand owner

Answer: (D)

Cybersquatting hinges on a bad-faith effort to profit from someone else’s trademark by using a domain name. The strongest description captures all the essential elements: registering, selling, or using a domain name with the intent to profit from the goodwill of a trademark owner. This focuses on profiting from the trademark’s value, often through reselling the domain or diverting traffic in a way that harms the brand.

The other ideas miss an important piece: cybersquatting isn’t primarily about harassment, copying a brand’s mark, or simply profiting from goodwill without the act of registering or using a domain name to profit. The defining factor is the bad-faith intent to profit from the trademark via registration, sale, or use of the domain.