Domain Name Disputes, Cybersquatting &

Internet Issues

May 5, 2009The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis

How The Domain Name System WorksICANN – Internet Corporation for Assigned

Names and Numbers

ICANN-Accredited Registries

ICANN-Accredited Registrars

Domain Name Registrants

WHOIS Records

Types of DomainsGeneric Top Level Domains – gTLDs

.aero .asia .biz.cat .coop .info.jobs .mobi .museum.name .pro .tel.travel

Types of DomainsCountry-Code Top Level Domains – ccTLDs

Generally, TLDs with two (2) letters Examples: .us .cn .mx . .jp .uk Over 250 ccTDLs May be additional tiers within the ccTLDs

.com.au; .edu.au .co.uk; .ltd.uk

May require local presence for registration

Trademarks v. Domain Names

Trademark Infringement IssuesCybersquatting/Typosquatting

How is the domain name used? What is the posted content?

Domain Name Watch Services Available

Domain Name Disputes

UDRP - Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution PolicyAdministrative process through ICANN-

approved service providers (currently four). National Arbitration Forum WIPO Asian Domain Name Dispute Resolution Centre The Czech Arbitration Court

UDRP process is available for all gTLDs and some ccTLDs (57)

Domain Name Disputes

UDRP - What does a complainant have to prove?The conflicting domain name is identical or

confusingly similar to the trademark or service mark owned by the complainant.

The respondent does not have any rights or legitimate interests in the domain name.

The domain name was registered and is being used in bad faith.

Domain Name Disputes

UDRP - What remedies are available?Transfer of the domain name to the

complainant.Cancellation of the domain name.No monetary damages available.

Domain Name Disputes

UDRP – What are the costs?Depends on the number of domain names in a

complaint.Depends on the number of panelists deciding

the complaint.General Budget: ~US $5,000 per complaint

(one domain name, one panelist)

Domain Name Disputes

ACPA - Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection ActCivil action in federal court.Added to the Lanham Act in 1999.Personal or in rem jurisdiction.

Domain Name Disputes

ACPA - What does a plaintiff have to prove?Defendant registers, uses or traffics in a

domain name that is identical to, confusingly similar to or dilutive of the Plaintiff’s mark.

Defendant has a bad faith intent to profit from the mark.

Domain Name Disputes

ACPA - What remedies are available?Cancellation or transfer of the domain nameActual damages and defendant’s profits, ORStatutory damages from $1000 to $100,000

per domain name

Domain Name Strategies

Determine Objectives

Adopt Company-Wide Policies & Procedures

Consolidate Ownership, Control of and Access to Domain Names

Domain Name Strategies

gTLDs or ccTLDs or Both

Policing and Enforcement

HOT TOPICS

Keyword Advertising

Social Media Issues

New gTLDs

Registrar Misbehavior

Domain Name Disputes, Cybersquatting &

Internet Issues

May 5, 2009The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis