WIPO Conference – 25th UDRP Anniversary
Commemorating 25 years of protecting brands and consumers online: a retrospective and look ahead
Geneva, Switzerland – April 23, 2025 (Hybrid)
In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP), designed by WIPO, a conference will be held at WIPO's Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland on April 23, 2025.
WIPO's Arbitration and Mediation Center, as the steward of the UDRP and the natural venue for this gathering, will bring together Internet stakeholders to share and exchange their inputs and experiences.
The conference will include a retrospective on the UDRP, taking stock of jurisprudential trends and looking ahead to the planned review of the UDRP by ICANN. Sessions will also look at ADR systems for blockchain domains, the upcoming introduction of new gTLDs, and DNS industry and enforcement forecasts including the potential impacts of AI.
The conference will include a retrospective on the UDRP, taking stock of jurisprudential trends and looking ahead to the planned review of the UDRP by ICANN. Sessions will also look at ADR systems for blockchain domains, the upcoming introduction of new gTLDs, and DNS industry and enforcement forecasts including the potential impacts of AI.
08:15 – 09:00
Registration and Coffee
09:00 – 09:15
Opening remarks
Daren Tang, Director General, WIPO
Marco Alemán, Assistant Director General
IP and Innovation Ecosystems Sector, WIPO
Daren Tang, Director General, WIPO
Marco Alemán, Assistant Director General
IP and Innovation Ecosystems Sector, WIPO
09:15 – 09:35
The UDRP in numbers
Moderator: Leena Ballard, WIPO
Deanna Wong, DeLab Consulting
Doug Isenberg, The GigaLaw Firm
Moderator: Leena Ballard, WIPO
Deanna Wong, DeLab Consulting
Doug Isenberg, The GigaLaw Firm
09:35 – 10:00
UDRP retrospective (a global blueprint)
Moderator: Brian Beckham, Head, Internet Dispute Resolution Section, WIPO
Sarah Deutsch, Attorney and ICANN Board member
Kiyoshi Tsuru, TSURU, TMI Abogados
Moderator: Brian Beckham, Head, Internet Dispute Resolution Section, WIPO
Sarah Deutsch, Attorney and ICANN Board member
Kiyoshi Tsuru, TSURU, TMI Abogados
10:00 – 10:20
WIPO's ccTLD Program
Moderator: Francisco Rios, WIPO
Geo Van Langenhove, EURid
Martin Michaus, Basham, Ringe y Correa, SC
Qiang LI, Deputy Director General of CNNIC
Moderator: Francisco Rios, WIPO
Geo Van Langenhove, EURid
Martin Michaus, Basham, Ringe y Correa, SC
Qiang LI, Deputy Director General of CNNIC
10:20 – 10:50
Coffee break
10:50 – 11:30
UDRP review expert group report
Moderator: Lori Schulman, Senior Director, Internet Policy for INTA
Zak Muscovitch, General Counsel, Internet Commerce Association
Paul McGrady, Elster & McGrady LLP
Moderator: Lori Schulman, Senior Director, Internet Policy for INTA
Zak Muscovitch, General Counsel, Internet Commerce Association
Paul McGrady, Elster & McGrady LLP
11:30 – 12:00
WIPO Overview 3.1
Moderator: Trevor Little, World Trademark Review
David Bernstein, Debevoise & Plimpton
Lawrence Nodine, Nodine Law LLC and Emory University School of Law
Moderator: Trevor Little, World Trademark Review
David Bernstein, Debevoise & Plimpton
Lawrence Nodine, Nodine Law LLC and Emory University School of Law
12:00 – 12:15
WIPO's e-filing system and case platform
Gonzalo Manuel Bleda Navarro, WIPO
Luca Barbero, Studio Barbero SpA
Gonzalo Manuel Bleda Navarro, WIPO
Luca Barbero, Studio Barbero SpA
12:15 – 12:30
Open Floor Discussion
12:30 – 13:30
* * * Lunch served outside the WIPO Conference Hall * * *
13:30 – 14:00
* * * Coffee served outside the WIPO Conference Hall * * *
14:00 – 14:45
ICANN's New gTLD Program
Opening remarks: Kurtis Lindqvist, President and CEO, ICANN
Moderator: Lars Hoffmann, ICANN
Nisha Parkash, SKY
Karen Day, SAS Institute
Opening remarks: Kurtis Lindqvist, President and CEO, ICANN
Moderator: Lars Hoffmann, ICANN
Nisha Parkash, SKY
Karen Day, SAS Institute
14:45 – 15:30
Applying the UDRP model to Web3/Blockchain domains/Alt Roots
Alex Urbelis, ENS
Tim Brown, Head of Brand Protection, Com Laude
Alex Urbelis, ENS
Tim Brown, Head of Brand Protection, Com Laude
15:30 – 16:15
The future of DNS enforcement: AI tools/state of play
Moderator: Paul McGrady, Elster & McGrady LLP
Michael Palage, InfoNetworks
Sarah Deutsch, Attorney and ICANN Board member
Moderator: Paul McGrady, Elster & McGrady LLP
Michael Palage, InfoNetworks
Sarah Deutsch, Attorney and ICANN Board member
16:15 – 16:45
Open Floor Discussion
16:45 – 17:00
Closing remarks
Brian Beckham, Head, Internet Dispute Resolution Section, WIPO
Brian Beckham, Head, Internet Dispute Resolution Section, WIPO
17:00
Closing followed by Cocktail Reception
In addition to WIPO Panelists, the conference is open to the public including brand owners, trademark practitioners, party counsel, registrars, ccTLD administrators, academics, and other domain name and Internet stakeholders. For those who cannot join in person, online participation will be available.
Online Attendance | In-Person Attendance | See faculty profiles