The domain was available until only a couple of weeks ago, but I didn't see the need to register it because in my mind it's practically worthless (so why pay the 8 bucks per year - if I'd register all possible permutations of my domain names, I'd be a poor man). Nontheless, Widget Shack (again, just an example) is a registered trademark, and the guy who contacted me clearly registered his in bad faith (as documents the email he sent to me). Apart from the fact it ticks me off, he's also spamming me and my partner with sales requests (third one I got now). Add it all together and it triggers my instinct to defend my rights (not sure - wasn't there some rule that I'm even obliged to defend my rights, in order to not forfeit them for the future?).
I'm a bit at a loss what my options are, though. Blow all the time and money out of the window for court action just because some kiddo thinks he can play it smart on me? Bleah. The other guy doesn't even live in the same country. What other options - if any - do I have?
If you want to teach this person a lesson, filing a UDRP costs around $1500-$2000.
Have your lawyer write up a C&D informing them of the tm infringement, pointing out their use of your mark in bad faith and asking that they turn the name over to you. Might scare them into handing over the name and giving you and your registered mark(s) a wide berth in the future for minimal expense.
If you want to teach this person a lesson, filing a UDRP costs around $1500-$2000.
Concerning the C&D: My experience is that if someone from the States get's a C&D from a foreign lawyer he'll laugh his head off. Not sure what you mean with that wide berth - if there's no court action it'll hardly serve as a precedence, or isn't that what you mean?
