Try Not to Argue Over Domain Names

In general, unless another domain name clearly and obviously interferes with your ability to operate in a clear and reputable manner online, it is best to avoid disputes, especially if your company is large and the alleged infringer is an individual or a small company. Even if you are "right," you don't want headlines about how you try to push small fry around; if your company's name is "Whittlesonmeyer's" and an individual whose name is also "Whittlesonmeyer" has already registered "Whittlesonmeyer" as a domain name, he or she has just as much right to it as you. Perhaps you can buy the name from the current holder or make some other amicable arrangement to use it. Your best approach is obviously personal and courteous, with no mention of attorneys or legal action, because, as you know all too well, many people interpret threats as calls to battle and are unwilling to deal with anyone who has previously shown hostility toward them.

Lawsuits against "parody" site names like "yourcompanysucks.com" are thrown out by U.S. courts at least as often as they are upheld, and the "yourcompany" people almost always get reams of bad publicity and bring lots of attention to the "sucks" site in the process.

Win or lose, domain name disputes, lawsuits, and lawsuit threats are often at least as harmful to the company that initiates them as they are to their targets.