WIPO Internet Domain Name Process

Report: Cape Town Regional Consultation

On October 7, 1998, the fifth regional consultation within the framework of the WIPO Internet Domain Name Process was held in Cape Town, South Africa at the Parliament Building, Parliament Street. The consultation was co-sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry, South African Patent and Trade Mark Office.

The meeting was attended on behalf of WIPO by Edward Kwakwa, Assistant Legal Counsel, Office of Legal and Organization Affairs and Catherine Regnier, Consultant, Electronic Commerce Section, Office of Legal and Organization Affairs. The panel of experts assisting WIPO in its work was represented by Ken Fockler (Former Chair and President, Canadian Association of Internet Providers) and Frederick Mostert (President, International Trademark Association). Opening remarks on behalf of the South African Patent and Trade Mark Office were presented by MacDonald Netshitenzhe.

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 were the need for a particular protection for famous and well-known marks and the requirement that a central database for famous and well-known trademarks be established; the desirability of adopting international standards for domain name-related matters; the potential liability of the registrar; the likely impact of a short waiting period after the request for registration; and the desirability of the addition of new gTLDs.

Speakers