Volume VII

Issue : 6: March 26, 2009

• UK Newspapers May Continue to be Sued Multiple Times Over Same Story
• China and U.S. Accept WTO Settlement on Intellectual Property
• Survey Shows Privacy on Web as Major Issue
• Google to Introduce Interest Based Targeted Ads
• Domain Name Dispute: Extremefitness.ca
• Cybersquatting on the Rise

Home > Volume VII > Issue 6: March 26, 2009 > Cybersquatting on the Rise

Cybersquatting on the Rise

A recent report indicates that a record number of “cybersquatting” cases were filed in 2008 by persons, including many well known entities and individuals, seeking to prevent others from abusing their names. Names included the likes of Yale University, Arsenal Football Club and actress, Scarlett Johansson. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) handled 2,329 disputes relating to domain names in 2008.

The number of cybersquatting cases will most likely continue to rise, as the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a not-for-profit organization which manages the distribution of domain names with the current generic top level domains (gTLDs) (such as .com and .gov), is preparing to launch many new gTLDs, which would result in a large increase in the number of available domain names. This raises concerns for trade-mark owners, as it significantly increases the task of preventing the abuse of trade-marks through cybersquatting. WIPO is working with ICANN on procedures intended to help avoid future litigation relating to the new gTLDs.

For additional information, visit:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/15/AR2009031501672.html