Man Who Sold Software to Aid Exploiting Microsoft Mark Can Be Contributory Squatter

Evidence that the defendant taught others how to exploit Microsoft Corp. trademarks to increase website traffic, and sold a software program to systematize this endeavor, will support a cause of action for both contributory cybersquatting and contributory trademark dilution, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington held Jan. 12 (Microsoft Corp. v. Shah, W.D. Wash., 2:10-cv-00653-RSM, 1/12/11).

The ruling marks the first time that a court has encountered a set of facts that supported these novel remedies, though a pair of earlier cases considered favorably trademark owner arguments that such causes of action are cognizable ...