Cybersquatting cases on the rise

[Sameh]

GENEVA (AFP) — If you tried to guess the web domain for FIFA without knowing the exact address, chances are, you would get to an Internet page that has nothing to do with the International Football Federation.

Cases of so-called cybersquatting -- or abusive registration of trademarks on the Internet --- are on the rise, the World Intellectual Property Organisation said Thursday.

A record 2,156 complaints were filed with the organisation's arbitration and mediation centre, 18 percent more than 2006 and 48 percent more than 2005.

"These increases confirm that 'cybersquatting' remains a significant issue for rights holders," said WIPO Deputy Director General Francis Gurry.

Against the background of an unprecedented number of cybersquatting cases in 2007, the evolving nature of the domain name registration system is causing growing concern for trademark owners around the world, said the UN agency.

Cases "reflect current trends and upcoming events", said WIPO, naming Facebook, MySpace, Stella McCartney and J.R.R. Tolkien as targets for abusive registration.

One in ten claims came from pharmaceutical companies, due to "numerous permutations of protected names" registered for web sites offering or linking to online sales of the medication.

The next largest group of claims were made by the banking and finance industry, followed by Internet and IT.

More than 40 percent of complaints were made from the United States, followed by France and Britain.

Meanwhile, most of the culprits come from US, Britain and China.

About a quarter of decisions were settled without a panel discussion.

Of the remaining cases, 85 percent of panel decisions ordered a transfer of the domain names to the complainant, while in 15 percent of the decisions, the registration holder was allowed to keep the domain name.

The agency noted that abusers are also using privacy services to shield such abusive registrations. Coupled with the rise in trademark abuse, this raises concerns about new domains to be announced for the end of this year.

"The potentially useful purposes of any new domains would be frustrated if these get filled predominantly with automated pay-per-click content," said Gurry.

Article Source : http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jyzyrtgSjiMMdaugq2152dkt77zw

 

[labrocca]

I could have SWORN I replied to this thread.

Anyways..thanks for stats as I find them very interesting.

 

[DNQuest.com]

It used to be 84% victory for TM holders. Up 1%.

 

[labrocca]

It used to be 84% victory for TM holders. Up 1%.

I don't see that ratio changing all that much. Realistically the increase of filings also gives rise to the increase in reverse hijacking.

What's concerning is the amount of filings. I think if WIPO ever changed a few of the rules filings MIGHT explode. I would like to know their financials concerning these filings and if they are making substantial income from them. WIPO themselves might lobby ICANN to change the rules one day...maybe slightly lower the fees. Just thoughts off the cuff...