WIPO Internet Domain Name Process

Report: Washington DC Regional Consultation

The third regional consultation in the framework of the WIPO Internet Domain Name Process was held in Washington, D.C. on October 1, 1998. The consultation was hosted by Georgetown University.

The meeting was attended on behalf of WIPO by Francis Gurry, Legal Counsel, and Christopher Gibson, Head, Electronic Commerce Section, Office of Legal and Organization Affairs. The panel of experts assisting WIPO in its work was represented by Hisham El Sherif (Chairman, Regional Information Technology & Software Engineering Center, Ken Fockler (Former Chair and President, Canadian Association of Internet Providers), Michael Froomkin (Professor, University of Miami School of Law), Donald Heath (President, Internet Society), Frederick Mostert (President, International Trademark Association), Mark Partridge (Chair, Professional Programs Committee, American Intellectual Property Law Association), and Phil Sbarbaro (Chief Litigation Counsel, Network Solutions, Inc.).

Opening remarks on behalf of Georgetown University were presented by Professor Michael Ryan of the School of Business.

The presentations and open discussions covered the four main topics to be addressed by the WIPO Internet Domain Name Process: dispute prevention, dispute resolution, protection of famous and well-known marks, and introduction of new gTLDs. The table below lists those who made presentations or interventions during the course of the meeting.

Issues that attracted particular attention include requiring pre-payment prior to the activation of a domain name registration; requiring accurate and up-to-date contact information for domain name registrations and subsequent renewals; alternative clearance mechanisms, such as conditional registration during a preliminary period, prior to activation of a domain name registration; the use of database directories to obtain information about domain name registrations; the use of the registrar as an agent for service of process and corresponding payment of a deposit for such service; the desirability of uniform alternative dispute resolution procedures for domain name conflicts; the desirability of establishing separate and pre-emptive protection mechanisms for famous and well-known trademarks; under what circumstances should new gTLDs be added; and the overarching questions of whether new measures, such as some of those listed in WIPO RFC-2, should be left to be determined by private contract and will such measures risk impeding the further development of the Internet.

A recording was made of the proceedings, and a transcript is available.

Speakers