Masked Iowan metal band Slipknot have filed suit against an individual they’ve accused of cybersquatting the Slipknot.com domain and using it to advertise bootleg merchandise. The group filed suit against the anonymous individual this past Wednesday, October 15th, in a bid to claim the domain name for themselves.
The individual holding the Slipknot.com domain is said to have been in possession of it since 2001, with the band being forced to operate under slipknot1.com. Per Billboard, Slipknot‘s lawyer Craig Reilly said via the suit:
“The domain name was registered in an effort to profit off of plaintiff’s goodwill and to trick unsuspecting visitors — under the impression they are visiting a website owned, operated or affiliated with plaintiff — into clicking on web searches and other sponsored links.”
The suit further alleges that Slipknot.com hosts pay-for-click advertising that directs users to counterfeit Slipknot merchandise. As such, the band have also leveled claims of trademark infringement and unfair competition against the squatter and are also seeking unspecified financial damages via the suit.
