Source: http://www.mondaq.com/canada/x/423002/Trademark/Domain+Name+Disputes+What+You+Need+to+Know+Part+2
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Domain Name Disputes: What You Need To Know � Part 2 - Intellectual Property - Canada
Home > Canada > Intellectual Property	Canada: Domain Name Disputes: What You Need To Know � Part 2 Last Updated: August 27 2015
Part 1 of this post provided an overview of the Canadian
Internet Registration Authority's domain name dispute
resolution process. Part 2 outlines a similar process available
through the World Intellectual Property Organization's
("WIPO") Arbitration and Mediation
WIPO is a United Nations agency that provides a global forum for
intellectual property services, information, and cooperation. The
organization's stated objective is to promote the protection of
intellectual property throughout the world through cooperation, as
well as collaboration with other international organizations.
Domain name dispute resolution is administered under the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy
Pursuant to paragraph 4 of UDRP, domain name dispute resolution
is only available for disputes concerning an alleged abusive
Any individual or company can file a domain name dispute
concerning a generic top level domain (a
"gTLD"). The most common gTLDs are .COM,
.INFO, .NET, and .ORG.
For a country-code top level domain
("ccTLD"), the UDRP only applies if it
has been voluntarily adopted. A list of ccTLDs for which WIPO
provides domain name dispute resolution services is available here.
Domain name disputes are administered under the Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the
The administrative procedure for a domain name dispute begins
when the party bringing the complaint (the
"Complainant") files the complaint (the
"Complaint") with an approved dispute
resolution service provider. The registered domain name holder (the
"Registrant") is then entitled to file a
Similar to domain name disputes under CIRA, only in exceptional
circumstances will there be an in-person hearing.
Currently, the approved dispute-resolution service providers are
WIPO, the Asian
Domain Name Dispute Resolution Centre, the National
Arbitration Forum, the Czech Arbitration Court, and the Arab Center for Domain Name Dispute
Each provider follows the Rules as well as their own
supplemental rules for domain name dispute resolution.
In order to obtain a remedy, a Complainant must establish the
The domain name registered by Registrant is identical or
The Registrant has no rights or legitimate interests in respect
The domain name was registered and is being used in bad
What constitutes a "legitimate interest" in a domain
Paragraph 4 of the UDRP provides a list of circumstances that
will demonstrate rights or a "legitimate interest" to the
dispute domain name:
Before any notice of the dispute, the domain name was used by
the Registrant in connection with a bona fide offering of goods or
The Registrant is making a legitimate non-commercial or fair
use of the domain name, without intent for commercial gain to
misleadingly divert consumers or to tarnish the trademark or
What is considered "bad faith"?
Paragraph 4 of the UDRP also provides a non-exhaustive list of
some examples of a "bad faith" registration of a domain
The domain name was acquired primarily for the purpose of
selling, renting, or otherwise transferring it to the
The domain name was registered to prevent the owner of the
trademark or service mark from reflecting the mark in a
corresponding domain name.
The domain name was registered in order to disrupt the business
The domain name is being used to intentionally as an attempt to
attract, for commercial gain, internet users to a website by
creating a likelihood of confusion with the Complainant's
If the Panel decides in favour of the Complainant, the disputed
domain name will either be cancelled or transferred to the
Complainant. If a decision is rendered in favour of the Registrant,
the Complaint will be dismissed. No monetary penalties or costs are
Similar to CIRA, if the parties to the dispute are involved in
other legal proceedings involving the same domain name, the Panel
has discretion to suspend or terminate the Complaint.
Previous decisions of WIPO Panels are available here. WIPO has also produced a guide with
selected decisions and commentary that will assist parties in
domain name disputes, available here.
(This is Part 2 of a two-part post; Part 1 can be found here.)
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