Squatting is when someone resides on property they do not own with the intent to take it over. The legality and rights of squatters vary by country, state, and region. After a certain period of time, squatters can attempt to claim “squatter rights” or adverse possession. Cybersquatting refers to buying a domain name in bad faith with the intent to sell it for profit.
A squatter is someone who resides on property they do not own, often with the intent to take over that property. The legality of being a squatter, as well as the rights such a person has legally, depend on the country, state and region, and even between different cities. This makes it somewhat difficult to fully understand a person’s ability to become a squatter. In any case, to fully understand what rights a squatter has, as well as the rights of the legitimate landowner of a given property, local statutes should be considered.
Some aspects of the squat, however, are common and can be viewed in a larger context. A squatter is typically a person who takes up residence on a piece of land or property that he does not own. Usually, the legal landowner is unaware of the person living on his land, and this ignorance is exploited by the abuser. After a certain period of time — the time is determined by the region in which this occurs — the squatter can then attempt to claim “squatter rights” in an attempt to assume full and legal ownership of the land or property. Legally, this process is often referred to as adverse possession.
The legality of squatters’ rights depends on the country, state or city in which it occurs, and different areas that allow for this process may require different lengths of time before it can be completed. If a specific region required one year of residency, for example, a squatter would have to live on the property without the landlord asking or forcing the person to leave, and without leaving the property, for one year to claim the squatter’s rights. In a region with that kind of law, if the person did the above and could prove it, then he could take possession of the land, as it would be considered abandoned by the previous owner. In some areas, a squatter may also transfer the squatting process to another person, called a “tack,” and the other person may complete the continuing occupation necessary to claim the squatter’s rights.
In the computer and Internet industries, “cybersquatting” refers to the process of buying a domain name for a website in bad faith with the intention of selling that name to someone else. An example of this would be if a major celebrity was named John Doe and someone bought the johndoe.com domain with the intent of selling it to the actor or the actor’s impersonation for profit. Purchasing a domain name for personal use isn’t necessarily illegal; it must be done in bad faith and with the intent to use it for profit by someone claiming rightful ownership.
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