Cybersquatting" is defined as "the abusive registration of trademarks as domain names." The WIPO complained the domain name system itself was in danger of becoming a mere forum for "speculative gain" as cybersquatters have snapped up many choice addresses associated with top businesses, brands and other trophies in this intellectual property skirmish.

These are the most common types of cybersquatting,

* "Cybersquatting": Bad-faith intent registration; a cybersquatter can either sell to the highest bidder, or collect money by "domain parking";
* "Typosquatting: This is cybersquatting of the tendency to mistype certain words in Internet addresses, such as spelling Google as "Googel";
* "Domainer": A purveyor of domain names, who makes income from buying and selling them;
* "Dropcatcher": A person or company who rushes to purchase, or "catch" popular domain names quickly when their registrations lapses;
* "Domain Tasting": Getting domains for a "five-day free refund period" to test, then dropping for refund the ones that didn't pan out;
* "Domain Parking": A way of making money by having a small site with just advertising linked to a related domain name, where the owner paid a small amount whenever a person clicks on an ad; which can add up to millions in some cases.