CLF for the Internet - Cybersquatting

Overview

Some private sector organizations are misrepresenting themselves as Government of Canada institutions or making unauthorized use of Government of Canada titles by registering Internet addresses - known as domain names - that resemble Government of Canada institutional titles.

These organizations then use the false, but similar domain names, to direct unsuspecting Internet users to misleading and sometimes offensive material. Some organizations also offer to sell the domain names resembling institutional titles that they have registered to anyone who is prepared to pay, including government institutions.

This is known as "cybersquatting". The adverse consequence of "cybersquatting" is the hindrance of legitimate access to Government of Canada Web sites.