What Is Pigeon Domain?
A pigeon domain (also called a typo domain or typosquatting domain) is a domain name that is intentionally registered as a common misspelling or typo of a popular website. The goal is to capture traffic from users who accidentally mistype the intended URL — for example, gooogle.com (three o's) targeting users trying to reach google.com.
Typosquatting exists in a legal gray area. While registering misspellings of trademarked names can lead to UDRP disputes and ACPA liability, registering misspellings of generic terms is generally permissible. The key factor is intent — using a typo domain to deceive users or trade on a trademark's reputation is problematic.
Pigeon domains are typically monetized through parking (showing ads to misdirected visitors), redirects to competing services, or phishing schemes (the most malicious use). Legitimate businesses often register common misspellings of their own brand as a defensive measure.
Why This Matters for Startups
Protect your startup from pigeon domains by registering common misspellings of your brand name. Common typo patterns include: doubled letters (googgle), missing letters (gogle), adjacent keyboard keys (goofle), and phonetic variations (gogel). You don't need to catch every possible typo — focus on the 2–3 most likely misspellings and redirect them to your correct domain.
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