Charlie Sheen controversy sparks domain name land grab

Leading domain name registrar GoDaddy has experienced a domain name gold rush for Web addresses with key terms related to actor Charlie Sheen’s public meltdown.

According to the company, more than 1,000 Sheen-related Web addresses have been taken on by Web users.

Many of the new Web addresses contain the words “winning” and “tiger blood,” according to GoDaddy. However, the firm has declined to release the details of any specific Charlie Sheen domain names.

Elizabeth Driscoll, vice-president of public relations at GoDaddy, said: “Registration trends like this are something we have seen in the past with celebrity deaths, or even tragic events. In this case, it makes sense for a surge in related domain names when you consider the intense exposure Mr. Sheen has had of late on the Internet.”

Registering a celebrity domain name can be deemed cybersquatting if the person or company doing the registering uses it for financial gain.