across the bar

Cybersquatting on the up

by Steve - Posted 13 March 2007

As SA's new Alternative Dispute Resolution procedure for domain name disputes takes shape, WIPO, the international agency that  deals with top level domain name disputes, has reported that complaints of cybersquatting rose by 25% in 2006. Cybersquatting usually involves the abusive registration of someone elses trade mark as a domain name.

The report also states that the WIPO panel decided for the trade mark owners in almost 84% of cases. This seems to add merit to some of the criticisms of the panel that it favours big business in disputes. 

Full report:  www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/news/editorial/16888915.htm