Us Code § 8131 - Cyberpiracy protections for individuals
Full text of Us Code United States Code § 8131 — Cyberpiracy protections for individuals, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 8131. Cyberpiracy protections for individuals
(1) In general
(A) Civil liability
Any person who registers a domain name that consists of the name of another living person, or a name substantially and confusingly similar thereto, without that person's consent, with the specific intent to profit from such name by selling the domain name for financial gain to that person or any third party, shall be liable in a civil action by such person.
(B) Exception
A person who in good faith registers a domain name consisting of the name of another living person, or a name substantially and confusingly similar thereto, shall not be liable under this paragraph if such name is used in, affiliated with, or related to a work of authorship protected under title 17, including a work made for hire as defined in section 101 of title 17, and if the person registering the domain name is the copyright owner or licensee of the work, the person intends to sell the domain name in conjunction with the lawful exploitation of the work, and such registration is not prohibited by a contract between the registrant and the named person. The exception under this subparagraph shall apply only to a civil action brought under paragraph (1) and shall in no manner limit the protections afforded under the Trademark Act of 1946 (15 U.S.C. 1051 et seq.) or other provision of Federal or State law.
(2) Remedies
In any civil action brought under paragraph (1), a court may award injunctive relief, including the forfeiture or cancellation of the domain name or the transfer of the domain name to the plaintiff. The court may also, in its discretion, award costs and attorneys fees to the prevailing party.
(3) Definition
In this section, the term "domain name" has the meaning given that term in section 45 of the Trademark Act of 1946 (15 U.S.C. 1127).
(4) Effective date
This section shall apply to domain names registered on or after November 29, 1999.
(Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, §1000(a)(9) [title III, §3002(b)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–548.)
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Trademark Act of 1946, referred to in par. (1)(B), is act July 5, 1946, ch. 540, 60 Stat. 427, also popularly known as the Lanham Act, which is classified generally to chapter 22 (§1051 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1051 of this title and Tables.
Codification
Section was formerly classified to section 1129 of this title.
Section was enacted as part of the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act, and not as part of the Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2008, which comprises this chapter.
CHAPTER 108—STATE-BASED INSURANCE REFORM
SUBCHAPTER I—NONADMITTED INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER II—REINSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER III—RULE OF CONSTRUCTION
SUBCHAPTER I—NONADMITTED INSURANCE
About This Section
15 U.S.C. § 8131 is part of Title 15 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.
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