I would say consumers have lost an important advocate. How can we help ?
Be warned.
These TM lawyers are chipping away and will take away your domain rights, they are ruthless. This is a serious development, counter to protecting domain owners rights.
I alerted everyone several times after joining as Observer only in November 2017.
Anybody else joined the RPM group? Now you should join, especially if you have valuable domains.
@mr-x you really should join. There are some others here with years of experience that should also join.
George posted details how to join here back in 2017.
https://www.namepros.com/threads/ic...ge-domain-owners-rights.1048344/#post-6420973
To quote
@Nat Cohen on the above thread:
"It is no secret that big brands and the IP lawyers that represent them are frustrated that the UDRP currently makes it difficult to take control of a domain that is being used in bad faith if the domain was registered before the trademark rights arose.
They want to turn the key test in the UDRP into simply "used in bad faith to take advantage of a trademark".
https://www.namepros.com/threads/ica-big-players-propose-to-change-domain-owners-rights.1048344/
Losing George, that's a huge understatement. He has gathered lot's of data, has written countless, well researched examples to refute claims by TM Lawyers. His portfolio and talent imo is way beyond. Domain Investors are at a huge risk. It surprises me really that none of the Blog owners or Brokers don't participate. Do they not have portfolios worthy of protection? It also surprises me why anyone would dump all the money on the ICA membership, when the RPM group is free. I don't know what the ICA even does so in my ignorance I won't be critical of that ICA group and those of you who are members, but I don't want to pay to join it and I don't know what actually they even do to advocate. I don't recall seeing ICA members participated in the RPM group- but correct me if I am wrong.
I would suggest if anyone here has portfolios of say $50-$100k value, you should sign up and actively participate in the RPM group. Afaik, there were only 2 active voices for Domainers, George and Nat.
I am an observer in the RPM group and was motivated to discover the inner workings, politics and organizational stuff. What I saw was shocking. While this forum has some pretty stupid threads, I never expected an ICANN group to stoop that low to bickering by Lawyers to George who has held his professional composure through many instances.
This RPM isn't for the faint hearted or uninformed, I don't know who could even begin to fill his shoes. I told George I would like to participate, but after observing the complexities and learning curve I truly felt unqualified. George is way beyond my level of knowledge and after all these months, reading the advanced level of knowledge that George’s experience was, I felt intimidated by his work, his citations, the Legalese and Lawyer crapolla. Also parliamentary procedure.
The other thing is that anybody who is familiar with my comments here, I am no diplomat and constantly a unapologetic critic and pundit. If I would have gotten involved as a participant, they would have probably booted me in the first few months for calling bullshit on the nonsense. Especially arguing with a bunch of arrogant TM lawyers in such a politicized group.
George has been in a constant battle with Trademark Lawyers. I have witnessed the hundreds of emails in my short time in the RPM group as an observer.
I also have collected a whole bunch of RPM emails which have examples of bullshit, petty and sometimes childish comments from Trademark Lawyers made to George. WIPO deleted one of "Case Law" so to speak references that was on the WIPO site. The head honcho is a lawyer, and George voted against him and of course all the fellow TM lawyers didn't like that! I should post some of the nonsense thrown at him, but will defer to George as it is his blog and he knows first hand what I am talking about that should be exposed.
Originally, I assumed that by joining the group it would be more productive. However, George has been continually berated, and his participation is only squelched by the Attorneys.