Domain Name Registration Related News
Wipo ruling could wipe out domain names27-03-2005
A well-meaning proposal from the World Intellectual Property Organisation (Wipo)
could threaten the existence of many domain
names and websites, a domain registrar has
warned.
Wipo wants to expand what is known as the Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) to include country names and government organisations.
If the proposal becomes policy, anyone who owns a domain name that includes a country name or acronym of a government organisation could be forced to drop the domain name.
For example, a company's ownership of a domain could be challenged by a government agency in another country which has the same initials.
Francis Gurry, assistant director general and legal counsel at Wipo, told vnunet.com that the proposal is a good idea in general, especially for organisational acronyms.
But he admitted that including country codes under the UDRP was more difficult to justify.
"We are only talking about people deliberately misleading others. This proposal would stop people illegitimately registering these names," he said.
"Country names are more difficult as people use a country name quite legitimately. This is why the proposal only covers future registrations, not those already registered."
Details at: http://www.pcw.co.uk/News/1139771
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