A Deep Dive Into The Distinction Between Defensive Applications And Cybersquatting

An increasing number of enterprises are choosing to register defensive trademarks in order to better protect their brands and to lower the risk of registrations by cybersquatters. Recent registrations have shone a light on this issue: Alibaba has registered a number of defensive marks, including ALI GRANDPA, ALI MAMA and ALI DAD, while Laoganma, meaning 'old godmother' in Chinese, registered the serial marks for OLD GOD-DAD and GODSON. The purpose of applying for such trademarks is not for actual use, but to prevent them from being rush-registered by others. Compared to endless opposition or invalidation actions, registering defensive trademarks is usually a cost-effective strategy.