Slipknot have quietly pulled the pin on their cybersquatting lawsuit over Slipknot.com, ending (for now) a legal punch up over who gets to own the band’s name in the most obvious place on the internet.
According to Domain Name Wire, Slipknot have voluntarily dismissed the trademark and patent infringement lawsuit they filed last year, which accused the owner of Slipknot.com of profiting off the band’s identity under the federal Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act.
If you’ve ever wondered why Slipknot’s official website lives at Slipknot1.com instead of the cleaner, more direct domain, this case was basically the reason it still hasn’t changed.
What Slipknot claimed
The lawsuit argued that Slipknot.com was registered in 2001 (via Lambgoat), years after the band formed, and was allegedly being used for pay per click advertising linked to the band’s name.
That included ads for things fans actually search for when they type ‘Slipknot’ into anything: concert tickets, merch, and VIP packages.
In other words, Slipknot’s camp believed the domain wasn’t just being held, it was being worked like a cash machine by leaning on the band’s reputation.
Why the lawsuit ended (for now)
Earlier this week, attorneys for the domain’s owner filed a motion to dismiss the case, claiming Slipknot failed to properly serve the registrant within the timeframe required by the court. The next day, Slipknot responded by filing a notice of voluntary dismissal, effectively stepping away before the case could be fully kicked into gear.
Could Slipknot refile?
The dismissal was entered without prejudice, meaning Slipknot still has the option to bring the claims back later. For now though, it’s a rare moment of Slipknot not going for the throat, and the domain name battle sits unresolved, waiting in the wings like a masked figure in the fog.
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