Google Goes After YouTube Domain Typo Squatter

Pro Tip: If your new business plan entails buying a bunch of domains that are clearly just one letter off from that of a major brand, you’re probably doing it wrong.

Such is the case for one gent from Illinois, who snatched up not one, not two, but six domains meant to look nearly identical to YouTube.com, filling them dubious surveys. As you’d expect, Google has now moved to seize the domains.

First noted by the super domain-sleuths at Fusible, Google has officially filed a complaint with the National Arbitration Forum (you can find it with case number 1416796). If successful (and it almost certainly will be), Google will be given full control of the domains.

The list of domains:

  • Youtbe.com
  • Youtub.com
  • Youtue.com
  • Youube.com
  • Yutube.com

Given that the three primary criterion are “identical or confusingly similar to a trademark” (check), “owner has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the domain name” (check), and “domain name has been registered and is being used in bad faith” (check! I mean, just look at that screenshot below), this one probably won’t take too long to clear up.