Domain Name Dispute Cases Increased by 6.6% in 2004

February 2005

In its February 18, 2005 press release, WIPO has reported filing an average of 3.4 UDRP and UDRP-based cases per calendar day in 2004, bringing the total number of cases received in 2004 to 1,179—an increase of 79 cases (or 6.6%) as compared to 2003. Also mentioned in the report is a 37 percent increase in ccTLDs cases over the previous year.

Listed below are a number of additional facts and figures reported by WIPO for 2004:

• Of the total of 7,010 UDRP and UDRP-based cases the Center has received, 6,783 (96.76%) have been resolved. In the 5,414 decisions they have rendered, WIPO panels have found for the complainant in 4,512 (83.3%) cases. The remainder of the resolved cases were settled by the parties.

• WIPO’s UDRP and UDRP-based cases filed since 1999 have by now covered over 12,500 separate domain names.

• In addition to famous brands (recent WIPO cases include the domain names ‘weathernetwork.com’, ‘yahoojobs.com’, ‘aventisdirect.com’, ‘3mworldwide.com’, and ‘bmw1.com’), celebrities continue to be targeted by cybersquatters. Often decisions favoring celebrities were based on common law rights in their names rather than on a registered trademark. In 2004, the Center received cases relating to movies, authors and books (JK Rowling, the Fast and the Furious), pop stars (Eminem, Pat Benetar, and Lloyd Banks), television shows (Fat Actress), and movie personalities (Spike Lee, Robert Downey Jr.). Sports figures (Freddy Adu and Ronaldhino) and sporting events (Orange Bowl) were also the target of cybersquatters.