WIPO Internet Domain Name Process

Report: Hyderabad regional consultation

On October 22, 1998, the eighth regional consultation within the framework of the WIPO Internet Domain Name Process was held in Hyderabad, India. The consultation was hosted by the Government of the State of Andhra Pradesh.

The meeting was attended on behalf of WIPO by Mr. Richard Wilder, Director, Non-Governmental Affairs, Office of Legal and Organization Affairs and Ms. Lucinda Jones, Consultant, Office of Legal and Organization Affairs. The panel of experts assisting WIPO in its work was represented by Dr. Ousmane Kane (Executive Director, African Regional Centre for Technology).

The consultation was opened by Mr. Subhash Chandra (Deputy Secretary, Department of Industrial Development, Ministry of Industry, Government of India), and opening remarks were presented from an industry perspective by Mr. Srini Raju (Executive Director, Satyam Computer Services Ltd, which also generously sponsored the participants' luncheon). The inaugural address was presented by Mr. J. Satyanarayana (Inspector General, Registration & Stamps and Ex-officio Secretary, Department of Information Technology, Government of Andhra Pradesh) and presidential remarks were made by Mr. J. A. Chowdary (Director, Software Technology Parks of India, Hyderabad). To complete the inaugural session, a vote of thanks was given by Mr. Ajay Sawhney (Additional Secretary (IT), Department of Information Technology & Special Officer, Indian Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad).

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 consultation focused, largely due to the strong attendance and participation by the Indian information-technology community, on the procedures and rules for registration of domain names, and the need for effective procedures to prevent and efficiently resolve disputes that may arise in that area. Concerns included the need for internationally harmonized standards to compensate for the situation where local trademark laws were inadequate to deal with instances of cybersquatting and cyberpiracy. Suggestions were made concerning the procedures which may attend domain name registration, so as to ensure business and consumer confidence in the system; these included the desirability and feasibility of imposing a waiting-period during which applications would be made public and subject to challenge, payment up-front for registration of a domain name and possible means to verify registrants' identities and other information provided upon registration. Attention was also focused on means of dispute resolution, including the practicability of on-line and localized arbitration services, and their relationship with the registries and registrars.

A recording was made of the proceedings. The transcript will shortly be made available to the public on the WIPO website under the section "Consultations." The table below lists the attendees and participants in the consultation.

Speakers