Slipknot Voluntarily Dismisses Lawsuit Over Slipknot.com Domain
Slipknot has voluntarily dismissed a federal lawsuit it filed against the owner of Slipknot.com, ending, at least for now, a legal dispute over a domain the band alleged was being used to sell unauthorized merchandise.
According to court filings, attorneys for Slipknot, operating through its corporate entity Slipknot, Inc., submitted paperwork on Wednesday stating that the band was dismissing the action “without prejudice.” The designation means the case has been closed but could be refiled at a later date.
The lawsuit, originally filed last fall, accused the operator of Slipknot.com of cybersquatting and trademark infringement under the Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act. The band alleged that the website, which is not affiliated with the Iowa-based metal group, had begun offering what it described as low-quality promotional items and costume-style masks bearing the Slipknot name and imagery.
Rather than naming a specific individual or company as a defendant, the suit was filed “in rem,” meaning it targeted the domain name itself. That legal strategy is commonly used when the identity of a domain owner is unknown or shielded, as was the case here. Industry publication Domain Name Wire has noted that in such proceedings, domain owners frequently do not appear in court to defend their holdings.
That changed in November, when attorney Jeffrey Neuman entered an appearance on behalf of an entity listed as Slipknot Online Services, Ltd. In a filing, Neuman said his client had been unaware of the lawsuit until that point and had owned the domain continuously for approximately 24 years. Records cited in the filing indicate the domain was registered in February 2001 and is linked to a post office box in the Cayman Islands. The individual or individuals behind the company remain anonymous.
In January, lawyers for Slipknot Online Services, Ltd. moved to dismiss the case, arguing that the band had waited too long to assert its claims. The motion pointed out that Slipknot released its debut album in 1999 and achieved widespread commercial recognition shortly thereafter, raising questions about why legal action over the domain was not pursued earlier.
Two months later, Slipknot’s legal team elected to dismiss the suit themselves, without providing a public explanation for the decision. At the time of publication, Slipknot.com remains online but does not display merchandise or active content. Instead, the site shows a placeholder message reading, “No valid delivery channels available for this domain,” along with a 2025 copyright notice.
Slipknot’s official website continues to operate at Slipknot1.com, which the band has used for years. While the group is not currently scheduled to tour, it remains active as a recording and legacy act, with a substantial catalog and global fanbase.
