Accenture Files UDRP on 75 .XYZ Domain Names

Accenture, one of the largest consulting companies in the world, has filed a UDRP proceeding against 75 .xyz domain names. The case was filed at the World Intellectual Property Organization, and it is WIPO Case D2016-1682. I have listed the 75 domain names below.

I did a quick Whois search on a handful of the domain names, and it appears that they may all be owned by the same entity with a Vietnam address. The domain names I checked had an early-June registration date.

Based on the registration dates I saw, it appears that these domain names were registered when the .XYZ registry was celebrating its second anniversary, and some domain registrars were selling .XYZ domain names for as little as one cent each. If these domain names each cost $.01, the total cost of these domain names was less than $1. Obviously, this cost is significantly lower than the cost of the UDRP filing!

I am somewhat unsure of why Accenture filed this UDRP. Many of these domain names seem pretty obscure, so it is unclear why the company is going after them. Essentially, similar domain names could be registered, and it seems like a never ending battle. I suppose the UDRP filing may serve as a warning to future registrants who will now see that Accenture is willing to go after domain names that use its trademarks.

Here is the list of domain names in this UDRP:

accentureall.xyz
accentureapp.xyz
accenturebase.xyz
accenturebits.xyz
accenturebit.xyz
accentureblog.xyz
accenturebox.xyz
accenturebros.xyz
accenturebyte.xyz
accenturecart.xyz
accentureegg.xyz
accenturefree.xyz
accentureguru.xyz
accenturehd.xyz
accenturehq.xyz
accentureinfo.xyz
accentureio.xyz
accenturejar.xyz
accenturelink.xyz
accenturelist.xyz
accenturellc.xyz
accentureme.xyz
accenturemob.xyz
accenturenet.xyz
accenturenew.xyz
accenturenow.xyz
accenturepage.xyz
accenturesale.xyz
accentureshop.xyz
accenturesoft.xyz
accenturesumo.xyz
accenturetips.xyz
accenturetip.xyz
accentureyou.xyz
accenturezone.xyz
accenturezoom.xyz
accenture101.xyz
accenture24x7.xyz
accenture247.xyz
accenture360.xyz
bestaccenture.xyz
bestofaccenture.xyz
betaaccenture.xyz
bitaccenture.xyz
buyaccenture.xyz
coaccenture.xyz
digiaccenture.xyz
ezaccenture.xyz
foraccenture.xyz
freeaccenture.xyz
getaccenture.xyz
goaccenture.xyz
hdaccenture.xyz
hitaccenture.xyz
hotaccenture.xyz
instaaccenture.xyz
justaccenture.xyz
liveaccenture.xyz
maxaccenture.xyz
meaccenture.xyz
metaaccenture.xyz
newaccenture.xyz
nuaccenture.xyz
onaccenture.xyz
proaccenture.xyz
reaccenture.xyz
topaccenture.xyz
tryaccenture.xyz
vaccenture.xyz
veryaccenture.xyz
weaccenture.xyz
xaccenture.com
youaccenture.xyz
101accenture.xyz
99accenture.xyz

Elliot Silver
Elliot Silver
About The Author: Elliot Silver is an Internet entrepreneur and publisher of DomainInvesting.com. Elliot is also the founder and President of Top Notch Domains, LLC, a company that has closed eight figures in deals. Please read the DomainInvesting.com Terms of Use page for additional information about the publisher, website comment policy, disclosures, and conflicts of interest. Reach out to Elliot: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
  1. I think we can all agree that this is a clear case of cybersquatting, which is what the UDRP is meant to address. Accenture is definitely within its rights to file the complaint.

    Whether it’s worthwhile to bother – that’s questionable. These 75 domains are of such low quality that, on first glance, they seem to pose no threat at all. And it’s likely that the registrant, having paid perhaps only 75 cents initially, would drop these penny domains on their 1st birthday instead of paying $500+ for annual renewals. In that case, the problem is both negligible and self-correcting. Why go through the hassle and expense of a UDRP then?

    You point out:

    “Obviously, this cost [i.e. $0.01 or $1.00 apiece] is significantly lower than the cost of the UDRP filing!”

    Accenture could have preempted the cybersquatter by registering these 75 domains themselves. And it sounds, Elliot, as if you’re implying that this is what Accenture ought to have done – based on a cost comparison. I know whether that’s what you meant to suggest, but perhaps it is.

    I’d disagree with any brand protection strategy that aims to preempt cybersquatting on this scale. Sure, Accenture could have grabbed these 75 domains for less than $1. But ongoing maintenance costs would be $500+ per year. There are hundreds if not thousands more .XYZ domains that can target Accenture’s brand. Multiply those across 1000 various nTLDs, and the border is simply too long to fortify. Plus, many of the nTLDs are far more expensive.

    When a company signals its readiness to preempt cybersquatters wherever and whenever a gap in the name space says “Boo”, that sends the exactly wrong message. nTLDs will just keep coming, banking on more and more defensive registrations. Companies ought to say, “Enough is enough!”

    I’m in favor of a less-is-more approach. Preemptive registrations in a few key areas. But elsewhere, use the UDRP to crack down on significant abuse once it occurs. An isolated case may be more expensive. But ultimately, it’s cheaper to swat the mosquito that’s sucking one’s blood than it is to quarantine ALL mosquitoes. Using the UDRP sends the right message to cybersquatters.

    Are these 75 domains significant? Outwardly, they don’t seem credible enough to pose any threat to consumers. But let’s keep in mind that cheap domains are often used in spam and phishing scams. Accenture may have seen signs of this or been concerned about it. Who knows? Brands have to pick their battles. With 75 trademark-infringing domains, this guy is as good any to make an example out of.

  2. Hello Elliot,

    This is a case of spending a lot of money on worthless .xyz Spamm extensions. Seems Accenture has bought the Google Kool-Aid promotions. Keep in mind Accenture is a Google Advertising Advocate.

    Chalk up another example of misguided Marketing Intelligence Ignorance. Lots of Google Kool-Aid missteps, costing uneducated Marketing Strategy firms buying the Google Doctrine Promos Spamming the Media Airwaves.

    We initially stated the Google GTLD experiment, enabled by ICANNs ignorance would cost countless corporations squandering their cash chasing a second Coming .COM Profit Center Ghost.JAS 8/21/16

    Gratefully, Jeff Schneider (Contact Group) (Metal Tiger) (Former Rockefeller IBEC Marketing Analyst/Strategist) (Licensed CBOE Commodity Hedge Strategist) (Domain Master https://www.UseBiz.com)

    • Hello Elliot,

      Googles Power grab introduction of new GTLDs and its Lobby Money is exacting a devestating economic toll on Corporations that use its Ad System. All of this in the name of Googles Original intentions to expand its monopoly on its User Base clients.Google cares little about its users losing billions in the process.In our estimation there should be a way to hold Google accountable for this Massive Financial loss they are imposing on their User Base. Yes this is a very costly and expensive experiment for Googles User Base.

      Gratefully, Jeff Schneider (Contact Group) (Metal Tiger) (Former Rockefeller IBEC Marketing Analyst/Strategist) (Licensed CBOE Commodity Hedge Strategist) (Domain Master https://www.UseBiz.com)

    • This whole Google Lobby Money backed GTLD Scam in its finality will cost our economy Multi Billions in lost Productivity and Online Business Expansion. All of this to support Googles Monopoly Grip on Media Advertising.What an economic travesty.

      Gratefully, Jeff Schneider (Contact Group) (Metal Tiger) (Former Rockefeller IBEC Marketing Analyst/Strategist) (Licensed CBOE Commodity Hedge Strategist) (Domain Master https://www.UseBiz.com)

    • Hello Elliot,

      The Collateral Economic damage of Googles New TLD initiative will hit the Advertising Community the hardest. DOMAINERS don’t get sucked into also being a economic fatality. Steer clear of all new TLDs introductions and exit as soon as possible. Friendly warning. JAS 8/21/16

      Gratefully, Jeff Schneider (Contact Group) (Metal Tiger) (Former Rockefeller IBEC Marketing Analyst/Strategist) (Licensed CBOE Commodity Hedge Strategist) (Domain Master https://www.UseBiz.com)

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