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IAC Commends WIPO for Work in Area of Domain Names

Geneva, September 13, 1999
Press Releases PR/1999/182

The Industry Advisory Commission (IAC), composed of senior representatives of industry, praised the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on Monday for the work it has been doing to curb the abuse of trademarks on the Internet and advised the Organization to continue its "global leadership" role in this area. The IAC urged the Organization to continue to highlight the respect of the rights and obligations of domain name holders.

In a statement (attached) issued at the end of a one-day meeting, the IAC commended WIPO for its "proactive contribution to the ICANN process to date." The IAC also advised WIPO "to continue its global leadership with the member States in ongoing communications, awareness and building of global awareness of the benefits of a balanced approach to the recognition and respect of the rights and obligations of domain name holders and intellectual property owners and users."

The IAC was referring to a series of recommendations presented for consideration by the Interim Board of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the non-profit international corporation formed to oversee a select number of the Internet's core technical management functions. The WIPO report was the culmination of a process initiated by WIPO in July 1998 and addresses questions relating to domain names, intellectual property and related dispute-resolution issues. For the first time ever, the report set out a definition for the abusive use of trademarks on the Internet.

With the explosive growth of the Internet and the increasing use of domain names as business identifiers, these issues have sparked great interest and worldwide debate. Among the problems identified in WIPO's report, and directly addressed by its recommendations, were bad faith, abusive registrations of domain names, also known as "cybersquatting," as well as the countervailing practice, referred to by domain name holders as "reverse domain name hijacking." The WIPO Report addressed four key areas: dispute prevention, a uniform system of dispute resolution, the protection of famous and well-known marks in generic top level domains (gTLDs), and the impact on intellectual property of adding new gTLDs. WIPO made a number of recommendations aimed at meeting the concerns of the rapidly expanding Internet-user community, and at giving recognition to the diverse social, commercial and communication purposes for which the Internet is used.

The IAC recognized the importance of the Internet as "a critical communication and information access infrastructure of global importance to individuals, commercial and non-commercial stakeholders and entities, and for government at all levels." The IAC also thanked WIPO and the member States "for the valuable contribution of WIPO" through the Internet domain names processs, including the development of dispute settlement procedures and advised the Organization to continue, as a matter of urgent priority "to develop solutions on the outstanding issues for adoption by ICANN and other appropriate bodies."

In addition, the IAC held talks on a broad range of issues relating to electronic commerce as well as to efforts by WIPO to promote public awareness and understanding of intellectual property and its contribution to economic and social development. The IAC agreed to meet again next spring to continue discussions on a large range of current items, including biotechnology and the impact of the global economy on the intellectual property system.

This was the second meeting of the IAC, which was established as part of the efforts by the Director General of WIPO, Dr. Idris, to take into consideration the broadest range of opinions in the context of the Organization's policy-making and program planning. The views from industry are important to WIPO bearing in mind that the private sector benefits directly from the organization's services. The Commission identifies and reviews issues that may need to be dealt by WIPO from the specific perspective of industry and market sector. The IAC, whose members sit in their personal capacities, has a purely advisory role to the Director General.

For further information, see Press Release 181 or please contact the Media Relations & Public Affairs Section, at WIPO:

Advice on Role of WIPO in Domain Names

The Industry Advisory Commission

  • Recognizes the importance of the Internet as a critical communication and information access infrastructure of global importance to individuals, commercial and non-commercial stakeholders and entities, and for government at all levels.
  • Acknowledges the present and evolving challenges created by a global, high speed Internet.
  • Commends and thanks WIPO and the member States for the valuable contribution of WIPO through the undertaking of the International process (WIPO process) on certain questions relating to the interface between Internet Domain Names and Intellectual Property, including the development of dispute resolution procedures.

Further

  • Commends WIPO for its proactive contribution to the ICANN process to date, and
  • Advises WIPO to continue its global leadership with the member States in ongoing communications, awareness, and building of global awareness of the benefits of a balanced approach to the recognition and respect of the rights and obligations of domain name holders and intellectual property owners and users.

And

  • Advises WIPO to continue, as an urgent priority, to develop solutions on the outstanding issues for adoption by ICANN and other appropriate bodies.
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