WIPO's best practice could be better

 

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Posted on 27 Feb 2001 at 15:07

The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) has published a best practice white paper designed to resolve domain name disputes quickly and inexpensively.

The paper outlines a set of basic principles for the administrators of country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs), such as the UK's Nominet, to follow and hopefully avoid drawn out disputes over cybersquatting.

However, Nominet reckons the proposals don't go far enough and suggests that some sort of mediation service, such as that offered by its own Dispute Resolution Service (which it hopes to be up and running by autumn) should be taken into account. It also voiced concerns that while the proposals strengthen the case of trademark-holding organisations, they fail to protect the intellectual property of companies that don't, but that have an equally strong claim to their name.

Author: Matt Whipp