Markmonitor

In 1999, as the internet was becoming a commercial force, founders Faisal Shah, James Hepworth, and Ed Priddy identified a critical vulnerability for businesses: the digital identity of a brand. They started Markmonitor in Boise, Idaho, not just as a domain registrar, but as a brand protection service. The company’s name itself came from the concept of “trademark monitoring.” Their mission was to protect corporate brands from cybersquatting, fraud, and counterfeiting online. The company quickly established itself as a key player, gaining ICANN accreditation in 2000 and serving major corporations. Markmonitor's focus on safeguarding more than half of the Fortune 100 brands made it an attractive acquisition target. In 2012, the next chapter of its journey began when it was acquired by Thomson Reuters, a move intended to create an end-to-end solution for online brand protection. The ownership changes continued. In 2016, Thomson Reuters sold its Intellectual Property & Science business, including Markmonitor, to private equity firms which formed the new parent company, Clarivate Analytics. Then, in a deal valued at approximately $302.5 million, Markmonitor was acquired by Newfold Digital in late 2022, joining a portfolio of web and commerce technology providers.