In general, domain assignment is based on the "first-come, first-serve" principle. Anyone who has registered a domain in their own name and is entered in the so-called Whois database as the domain owner is considered the owner. Exceptions can apply if, for example, there is a patent, name, or trademark right. Aspects such as the domicile of the registered owner, the prominence of the name, or the notoriety of a company name can play a role when it comes to determining the rightful owner of a domain in a dispute. ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) has developed an arbitration procedure to support domain disputes, the so-called UDRP (Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy).