On-Line Dispute Resolution Facility

The WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center is pleased to announce that it has developed and will soon introduce an on-line dispute resolution facility specifically designed to facilitate the efficient administration and resolution of disputes arising out of the registration and use of an Internet domain name. This new facility is in addition to the on-line dispute resolution facility that will be made available for use in connection with other dispute resolution procedures administered by the Center, such as the arbitration of other types of intellectual property disputes.

As an Internet-based system it will be accessible through the Center's web site or that of a registrar. The result is that not only parties in one location, but also those located thousands of miles apart on different continents will have an effective means to utilize the services of the Center to help resolve their domain name disputes expeditiously and at low cost. It is intended that the on-line domain name facility will also become available in languages other than English.

The on-line domain name facility will provide digital communication tools to allow parties to file submissions by completing electronic forms and to exchange information on-line. Panelists appointed to decide disputes will also be able to utilize the system to expedite the decision-making process. The facility includes such functions as automatic notifications, secure fee payment facilities, databases to support the logging and archiving of submissions, and decision-reporting.

For further information, please contact a member of the Center's staff.