Scott R. Austin

Scott has counseled thousands of clients on brand protection and online enforcement of IP rights, from trademark oppositions and cancelations before the TTAB, to abusive domain name removals under the UDRP and copyright infringing website takedowns under the DMCA.
In addition to filing UDRP complaints for clients in domain name disputes, Scott is a panelist for two of the five ICANN-approved UDRP service providers, WIPO and the FORUM, having participated as an arbitrator in over 250 domain name dispute decisions since 2013. He has also been a featured speaker at WIPO’s annual panelist workshop in Geneva and chaired the panel that wrote the first PICDRP decision for ICANN in 2017.
Serving since 2008 on numerous INTA internet committees, ICANN working groups and the Intellectual Property Constituency, Scott has worked directly alongside leading Internet governance representatives and policy managers responsible for Registries (Verisign), Registrars (GoDaddy, Namecheap) and Social Media platforms (Google, Meta, X/Twitter, LinkedIn ) as well as Internet “founding father” Steve Crocker, on trademark rights protection policies and verification practices to improve registration data accuracy. This network of professional contacts has proven instrumental in quickly accessing those needed to tackle the takedown or reinstatement affecting clients, such as investment copycat websites, WhatsApp phishing schemes, fake Google reviews, and unauthorized disclosures on LinkedIn. Scott is also a trusted partner in Google’s Early Flagger Program providing exclusive access to Google’s special team responsible for takedowns involving fraudulent use of Gmail.

Scott’s latest project in his quest to combat domain name abuse is a series of YouTube podcasts, “Domain Justice with Scott Austin” providing insights and pointers on UDRP procedures and meaningful decisions.
Scott taught a year long trademark and copyright law course for a tenured trademark professor while on sabbatical and has served as an adjunct professor of Internet law. He cheers for his back to back Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers. Scott is a professional musician and was recently inducted into INTA’s cover band of trademark lawyer musicians, “The Opposition” as a member of its “Horns of Persuasion” section, performing songs by AWB, Chicago, and Tower of Power at INTA’s Annual and Leadership Meetings.