Striking Back Against Online Impersonation

 You know that your online identity is an important asset. You've been cautioned that what you post online effects your personal reputation, your business' reputation, and your clients' reputation. But sometimes, you have no control over the statements attributed to you online. For years, celebrities, public figures, and even private individuals have been plagued by online impersonators (or "e-personators"). While the ICANN arbitration procedures and the federal Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act provide some recourse where an impersonator registers an individual's or entity's name or trademark as a second-level domain name (e.g. dailyjournal.com), there has traditionally been little recourse for impersonation over social media, online postings, or by email. Up until now, for example, there has generally been little recourse if someone were to set up a Twitter account in your celebrity or high profile client's name only to announce to the world that her largest endorser makes awful products that she would never use.

Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal. ©2012 Daily Journal Corporation. All rights reserved.