“The more famous the brand, the more copycats it attracts.” ⚖️
At DomainX Bangalore 2015, I spoke with Rodney D. Ryder, a lawyer who has written books on cyber law and intellectual property, about domain names and trademarks. 🎙️
📊 In this episode, we unpacked:
- ⚖️ How Indian law sees domain names
- ⏱️ The 60-day .in dispute process
- 🐱 Dealing with copycats
🎥 Watch the full episode:
⚖️ How Indian Law Sees Domain Names
Rodney had been practicing law for nearly 20 years and has written books on cyber law and intellectual property, including domain names. Over the last 15 years, he said, Indian law on domain names and trademarks has matured a lot. ⚖️
He was part of the first domain name cases in India, including Yahoo in the Delhi High Court and Satyam, where his book was quoted by the Supreme Court. Today, trademarks are seen as an integral part of domain names, and infringing a trademark through a domain is taken seriously. For another legal view, read Na. Vijayashankar’s interview. 🔗
⏱️ The 60-Day .in Dispute Process
Interestingly, the Indian government left domain names to trademark law. What it did do for the .in country-code domain was set up a very fast dispute resolution system. ⏱️
Rodney said it takes about 60 days to fully resolve a .in domain dispute between two parties anywhere in the world, which is great by the standards of the Indian judicial system. For an international perspective, read Zak Muscovitch’s interview. 🔗
🐱 Dealing With Copycats
This isn’t a US vs India issue. Brand owners everywhere struggle with copycats, and the better known a brand is, the more people will try to copy it. 🐱
What should you do if someone copies your blog? It depends. On platforms like Blogger or WordPress, report it and they handle takedowns, so you don’t need to file a case. For domain name infringement, the dispute resolution route is the simple remedy. For more from the same event, read my own DomainX interview. 🔗
📝 Key Takeaways From the Rodney D. Ryder Interview
- ⚖️ Trademarks are treated as part of domain names
- ⏱️ .in disputes take about 60 days
- 🐱 Famous brands attract copycats
- 📝 Report platform copycats instead of suing
❓ FAQs About Rodney D. Ryder
Who is Rodney D. Ryder?
A lawyer with nearly 20 years of practice who has written books on cyber law and intellectual property.
How long does a .in domain dispute take?
About 60 days, according to Rodney.
What should I do if someone copies my blog?
On platforms like Blogger or WordPress, report it for takedown. For domain infringement, use the dispute resolution process.
🎙️ More Inside A Hustler’s Brain Interviews You’ll Love
- Zak Muscovitch Canadian Intellectual Property Lawyer Interview at DomainX
- Interview with Mary Wong from ICANN: Domainfest 2015
- Domain Name Investing Tips By Domainer Manmeet Pal Singh
- Interview with Arvind Reddy Big Time Domainer at DomainX 2015
Have you ever dealt with a copycat site or a domain dispute? Tell me in the comments. 💬
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Jitendra Vaswani is a well-known expert in SEO and AI-driven digital marketing. He has spoken at international events and founded Digiexe, a digital marketing agency, and AffiliateBooster, WordPress plugin designed specifically for affiliate marketers. With over 10 years of experience, Jitendra has helped many businesses succeed online. His bestselling book, Inside A Hustler’s Brain: In Pursuit of Financial Freedom, with over 20,000 copies sold globally, underscores his influence and commitment to empowering digital marketers.