Domain Names: Securing Your Online Presence and Protecting Your Brand

A domain name is often the first point of contact with your customers.
It is a strategic element of your digital identity.
Without proper protection, it may be registered or used by third parties, sometimes abusively.
LAZULI assists companies and executives in securing, protecting, and defending their domain names.

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The name “LAZULI” refers to lapis lazuli, a semi-precious stone symbolizing value and durability.
This name reflects a vision of intellectual property: a creation is not merely an idea, but a value that is built, preserved, and defended over time.

Lazuli Law Firm’s Areas of Practice

Trademark Law

Copyright & NEIGHBOURING Rights

Copyright & AI

Influencer Law & E-reputation

Image Rights & Privacy

Infringement & Unfair Competition

Designs

Domain Names

Other Areas of Expertise

What is a domain name?

A domain name is the address of your website, composed by a name and an extension (e.g., lazuli.law).

It allows you to:

  • Identify your online activity
  • Strengthen your visibility
  • Protect your image

It does not automatically grant an intellectual property right, but it may constitute prior use enforceable against third parties, provided it is actively used.

Why secure your domain name?

Without a proper strategy:

  • A third party may register a domain name similar to yours
  • Your brand may be used online by unauthorized parties
  • Your visibility may be diverted

Proactive protection helps prevent these risks.

Cybersquatting: A Common Risk

Cybersquatting consists of registering a domain name:

  • Identical or similar to a trademark
  • With the intention of causing harm or obtaining undue profit

Examples:

  • Registering a similar name to create confusion
  • Reselling the domain name at a high price
  • Redirecting it to a competitor’s website

How can you recover a domain name?

If preliminary negotiations with the domain name owner fail, several procedures are available:

Specific procedures

  • UDRP (international): fast procedures to recover a domain name (e.g., .com) registered in bad faith, without going to court
  • SYRELI (.fr): fast procedures to recover a .fr domain name in case of infringement of your rights (trademark, name, business)

Legal actions

  • Unfair competition claims
  • Trademark infringement actions

The appropriate approach depends on the situation and your objectives.

Registering and Protecting Your Domain Name

Best practices:

  • Register multiple extensions (.fr, .com, .eu, etc.)
  • Anticipate variations (misspellings, plurals, hyphens, etc.)
  • Conduct prior rights searches
  • Monitor new registrations

A comprehensive strategy helps limit risks.

Domain Name vs. Trademark: What Is the Difference?

  • Domain name: the address of your website
  • Trademark: an intellectual property right that identifies the origin of the goods or services it designates and is used for

Both are complementary and should be considered together. The unauthorized use of a trademark in a domain name constitutes trademark infringement.

Disputes and Litigation

The firm assists in cases involving:

  • Cybersquatting
  • Trademark infringement
  • Unfair competition
  • Fraudulent registration of a trademark subsequent to your domain name

Possible actions:

  • Cease-and-desist letter
  • UDRP / SYRELI proceedings
  • Legal action
  • Invalidity action against a trademark filed in bad faith

EXAMPLES OF CASES HANDLED

Over the past few years, Jérémie LEROY-RINGUET has notably:

  • Drafted amicable transfers of domain names, for example for clients in the fields of fintech
  • Assisted his clients in managing their domain name portfolios
  • Obtained pre-litigation transfers of domain names, for example in the field of refrigerating appliances

Support from Lazuli

The firm assists:

  • Companies
  • Startups
  • Executives
  • Creators

With:

  • Registration strategy
  • Securing domain names
  • Recovery procedures
  • Dispute management

Objective: protect your online presence and your identity.

Would you like to secure or recover a domain name?

Contact Lazuli

FAQ – Domain Names

Not to a sufficient extent. It does not replace trademark registration.

If you have a prior trademark or company name, you may initiate proceedings to recover the domain name or have it cancelled.

It is the abusive registration of a domain name similar to a trademark.

UDRP, SYRELI, or legal action, depending on the situation.

Generally, from a few weeks to a few months. Longer for court proceedings.

It is recommended, to prevent misuse.

Yes, but it is often more complex.

To choose the right strategy and maximize the chances of success.