The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is the authority that is administering the implementation of Internet’s domain name system. ICANN has proposed to hold its second public meeting of the year on June 20th, 2011.ICANN could approve its proposed program to introduce an unlimited number of new generic top-level domain names (gTLD). These gTLDs are in great demand among world reputed brands and trademarks owners. The new gTLDs would allow such brand and trademark owners to register their brands and trademarks as the domain name.
Naturally, these GTLDs are in great demand and there would be attempts to squat famous brands and trademarks of others. ICANN would stringently deal with such attempts by allotting the GTLDs to only “Bonafide Applicants” after verifying their “Claims”, informs Praveen Dalal, managing partner of New Delhi based IP and ICT law firm Perry4Law and a Neutral at World Intellectual Property Organisation’s (WIPO) Arbitration Centre.
Earlier WIPO had informed that cyber squatting cases are on rise. This proves that well known brands and trademarks are at risk of being misappropriated by dubious individuals and organisations.
The present allotment of GTLD would also face similar problems if an effective “Pre Screening Procedure” along with “Reasonably High Application Fee” is not prescribed by ICANN, suggests Dalal. ICANN and WIPO would also be required to “Streamline” their Dispute Resolution Services keeping in mind the recent Technological Advances, suggests Dalal.
Let us see how ICANN, WIPO and similar organisations would deal with the issues of cyber squatting, brand violations and trademark violations in the near future.
