WIPO Advanced Workshop on Domain Name Dispute Resolution: Update on Precedent and Practice

WIPO Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland, Wednesday and Thursday, October 12 and 13, 2022

Overview

The WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center’s domain name dispute resolution services give effect to the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP), adopted in 1999 by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) at the recommendation of WIPO. The UDRP provides trademark owners with an administrative mechanism (outside of the courts) for expedient and cost-effective resolution of “cybersquatting” disputes arising out of the bad-faith registration and use of domain names corresponding to their trademarks. The UDRP applies to disputes in current and new generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs), as well as an increasing number of country code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs). In December 1999, the WIPO Center received the first UDRP case. Since then, trademark owners from around the world have filed over 58,000 cases with WIPO – the leading global provider. Together these WIPO cases have assisted brand owners in recovering over 105,000 domain names.

The evolving nature of the Domain Name System (DNS) remains of significance for trademark owners globally. With this evolution comes a demand for domain name dispute resolution training. Notably drawing from WIPO’s Overview of WIPO Panel Views on Selected UDRP Questions, Third Edition (“WIPO Jurisprudential Overview 3.0”), WIPO’s Advanced Workshop focuses on UDRP case trends covering the most relevant substantive and procedural issues, including taking stock of the GDPR’s impact on UDRP cases.

Who Should Attend

The target audience for this Workshop includes potential case parties, namely: trademark owners, outside counsel, and domain name registrants. Registrars and ccTLD administrators also attend the Workshop to increase their knowledge of UDRP decisions and case administration processes, as well as current issues in the DNS more generally. Participants should have a basic understanding of the DNS and trademarks. To maximize the benefit of the Workshop for all participants, course materials will be provided, and should be consulted, ahead of the program.

Faculty

The faculty consists of experienced WIPO UDRP panelists, trademark counsel, and senior WIPO staff. In addition to presentations, the program will include practical break-out sessions and discussions between participants and instructors.

Program

Through presentations and exercises, participants in the Workshop will receive information on, inter alia:

• the legal framework of the UDRP
• the WIPO Center’s domain name dispute resolution services
• substantive and procedural developments
• new Top-Level Domains, ICANN RPMs, DNS developments more generally

Using the WIPO Jurisprudential Overview 3.0 and recent decisions as principal guides, the faculty will discuss selected topics on the basis of UDRP cases.  Example topics include:  Geographical Scope and Timing of Trademark Rights, Unregistered Trademark Rights, Personal Names/Geographical Terms, Licensee Rights/Rights among Corporate Entities, Confusing Similarity and Website Content, Fair Use, Internationalized Domain Names, Disclaimed or Design Elements in Trademarks, Privacy and Other Registrar Issues, Parking and Landing Pages, Willful Blindness, the Conjunctive Requirement, the Role of Precedent, Laches, Consolidation, Panel (Procedural) Orders, Supplemental Filings, Language of Proceedings, and Reverse Domain Name Hijacking.

Certificate of Participation

To support those seeking Continuing Legal Education (CLE) or Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit, a certificate of attendance will be provided.

Practical Information

Registration and Fee

Hotel Accommodation and Visitor Information

Information is available at https://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/practical-information/

Contact