Trademark Law and Cyberspace #2: Domain Name System (Lecture at the Hong Kong Polytechnic...

©ICANN

EmmanuelGILLET,PhDEmail:[email protected]:CCBY-NC-ND4.0|2014

1. Introduction 2. Registering Domain Names 3. Resolving Domain Names Disputes

EmmanuelGILLET,PhD|CCBY-NC-ND4.0|[email protected]|14March2014,TheHongKongPolytechnicUniversity

Trademark Law and Cyberspace #2: Domain Name System

1. Introduction 1.1. Technical Aspects 1.2. Who? + What? 1.3. Some Financial Aspects



polyu .edu .hk

Subdomain Second Level Domain

Top Level Domain (TLD)

1. Introduction > 1.1. Technical Aspects



gTLDs Generic Top Level

Domains ccTLDs

sTLDs Sponsored Top Level Domains

.aero, .jobs, .museum, .post, etc.

,com, .net, ,org, .biz, .info, etc.

.hk, .cn, .jp, .eu, .us, etc.

ROOT

New TLDs

.christmas, .cool, ….luxury, .solar, etc.




Internationalized Top Level Domains (ITLDs)

Chinese .中国, .中國 .台灣 .台湾

Thai .ไทย

Arabic .فلسطنيCyrillic .рф




1. Introduction 1.2. Who? + What?



gTLDs .com

ccTLDs .hk or .香港

sTLDs .asia

Registry : DotAsia Registry: Verisign Registry : HKIRC

Registrars accredited by

ICANN


ICANN


HKIRC

Owner of a .asia domain name

Owner of .com domain name

Owner of .hk domain name

1. Introduction > 1.2 Who? + What?



1. Introduction 1.3. Some Financial Aspects



1. Introduction > 1.3. Some Financial Aspects

Domain Name Selling Price (USD)

Toys.com 5.100.000

Fund.com 9.999.950

Business.com 7.500.000

Fb,com 8.000.000



2. Registering Domain Names 2.1. Registering a DN under a gTLD 2.2. Registering a DN under a ccTLD 2.2.1. Registering a .cn, .中国, .公司 or .网络 2.2.2. Registering a .hk or . 香港



2. Registering Domain Names 2.1. Registering a DN under a gTLD 2.2. Registering a DN under a ccTLD 2.2.1. Registrering a .cn, .中国, .公司 or .网络 2.2.2. Registering a .hk or . 香港

.com, .net, .org, .info, .biz, etc.

•  First come, first served •  No requirements •  Limitations

•  Technical limitations

•  List of ICANN accredited registrars (ì)



2. Registering Domain Names 2.2. Registering a DN under a ccTLD 2.2.1. Registering a .cn, .中国, .公司 or .网络 2.2.2. Registering a .hk or . 香港



2. Registering Domain Names 2.2. Registering a DN under a ccTLD 2.2.1. Registering a .cn, .中国, .公司 or .网络 2.2.2. Registering a .hk or . 香港

China Internet Domain Name Regulations, Chapter 3 (ì) •  First come, first served (article 24) •  No requirements •  Limitations (other than technical)

•  Article 27: national security, public order, etc.



2. Registering Domain Names 2.2. Registering a DN under a ccTLD 2.2.2. Registering a .hk or . 香港

HKIRC Registration Policies (ì) •  Second level (name.hk)

•  First come, first served •  No requirements (article 3.4.)

•  Limitations (other than technical) •  Common surnames (ì)

•  Other levels (idv.hk / . .hk / . . , .com.hk/.公司.hk / .公司. 香港, etc.)

•  Specific requirements (articles 3.5 to 3.10)



3. Resolving Domain Names Disputes 3.1. Background 3.2. The Judicial Way 3.3. The Extra-Judicial Way



3. Resolving Domain Names Disputes 3.1. Background



3. Resolving Domain Names Disputes > 3.1. Background

1994 Transfer of the domain name to McDonald's in return for a $3,500 donation to an elementary school

2013 : McDonald’s makes an application to register the TLD .mcdonalds

[email protected]




Domaining

The practice of registering or acquiring domain names (generic words, words from the dictionary,

etc.), with the intent of selling them for a profit

✔ Legal

Cybersquatting / Typosquatting

Registering and/or using with bad faith a domain name which is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark in

which a third party has rights, with the intent to benefit from it

✖ Illegal

cafedecoral.hk/cafedecarol.hkCoffee.com




Trademarks owners v. Domain Names owners Two types of cases

Abuse of trademark rights Abuse of the domain names registration system

(reverse domain name hijacking) (cybersquatting / typosquatting)



3. Resolving Domain Names Disputes 3.2. The Judicial Way 3.2.1. European Union 3.2.2. United States 3.2.3. People’s Republic of China 3.2.4. Hong Kong SAR 3.2.5. + and – of the Judicial Systems



3. Resolving Domain Names Disputes > 3.2. The Judicial Way > 3.2.5. + and – of the judicial systems

+ - Courts have a large competence (can resolve contractual, tort and

criminal matters)

Slow

Courts can grant legal costs and damages

Expensive



3. Resolving Domain Names Disputes 3.3. The Extra-Judicial Way 3.3.1. UDRP 3.3.2. Expansion of the UDRP Model 3.3.3. cnDRP 3.3.4. hkDRP 3.3.5. New gTLDS 3.3.6. + and – of the Extra-Judicial Way



3. Resolving Domain Names Disputes 3.3. The Extra-Judicial Way 3.3.1. UDRP



3. Resolving Domain Names Disputes > 3.3. The Extra-Judicial Way > 3.3.1. UDRP

3.3.1.1. How does it work? 3.3.1.2. Who? + What? 3.3.1.3. What is the legal nature of the UDRP? 3.3.1.4. Filing a UDRP Complaint 3.3.1.5. Replying to UDRP a Complaint 3.3.1.6. Outcome 3.3.1.7. Main procedural aspects



Registry

Registrar

Owner of the domain name

and respondent in the UDRP proceedings

Accreditation agreements

Acceptance of the offer to resolve the dispute via the

UDRP system

Registration Agreement containing the UDRP

clause

UDRP Principles and

Rules (included in the

registration contract)

Unilateral dispute

resolution clause with an erga omnes

effect

Owner of a trademark and claimant in the UDRP

proceedings

Alternative Dispute Resolution Service

Providers (there are 5)

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Choice of neutral(s) Panelist(s) - 1 or 3

UDRP decision: status quo, transfer or

cancellation of the domain name

Notification of the decision to the registrar

Accreditation agreements

3. Resolving Domain Names Disputes > 3.3. The Extra-Judicial Way > 3.3.1. UDRP > 3.3.1.1. How does it work?


3. Resolving Domain Names Disputes > 3.3. The Extra-Judicial Way > 3.3.1. UDRP > 3.3.1.2. Who? + What?

3.3.1.2. Who? + What?

Registrant •  Owner of the domain name, respondent in the proceedings (see also: WhoIs)

Registrars •  Registrars are accredited by the ICANN; •  Registrars domain names registration contracts (contracts

between the registrar and the owner of the domain name; the UDRP must be included in these contracts);

•  Registrars enforce the decisions rendered by panelists.

Alternative Dispute Resolution Service Providers (ADRSP)

•  Administer the cases; •  When parties disagree, ADRSP nominate panelists.

Panelist(s) / 1 or 3 •  Nominated by the parties and/or by the ADRSP; •  Render a decision.




3.3.1.2. Who? + What?

List of Approved Alternative Dispute Resolution Service Providers (ADRSP) (ì)

ADNDRC Asian Domain Name Dispute Resolution Center

NAF National Arbitration Forum

AMC-WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center of the World Intellectual Property Organization

CAC Czech Arbitration Court, Center for Internet Disputes

ACDR Arab Center for Domain Names Dispute Resolution




3.3.1.2. Who? + What?

List of ICANN Accredited Registrars (ì)

1007 registrars (10 March 2014)



3. Resolving Domain Names Disputes > 3.3. The Extra-Judicial Way > 3.3.1. UDRP > 3.3.1.3. Legal nature

3.3.1.3. What is the legal nature of the UDRP?

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Mechanism?

Yes: outside the courts

Arbitration? No: the parties still have the possibility to choose to resolve the dispute before the courts

Mediation? No: the panelist(s) render a decision that may change the legal situation of the parties as to the ownership of the domain name



3. Resolving Domain Names Disputes > 3.3. The Extra-Judicial Way > 3.3.1. UDRP > 3.3.1.4. Filing a UDRP Complaint

3.3.1.4. Filing a UDRP Complaint

•  Choice of the dispute resolution provider •  Using the appropriate online form (ì)



Source:WIPO


3.3.1.4. Filing a UDRP Complaint •  Main requirements to win the case (UDRP Policy, article 4.a) •  Complainant must prove that:

•  the complainant has a previous trademark; and •  the disputed domain name is identical or confusingly

similar to this trademark; and •  the owner of the domain names has no right or legitimate

interest in respect to this domain name; and •  The owner has registered and is using the disputed

domain name in bad faith.




3.3.1.4. Filing a UDRP Complaint •  How to prove bad faith? (for examples, see UDRP Policy, article 4b):

•  The owner of the domain name (respondent): •  registered or acquired the domain name primarily for the purpose

of selling, renting, or otherwise transferring the domain name registration to the complainant or to a competitor for valuable consideration;

•  Example: V Azteca S.A.B. de C.V. v. Johny Romero (aka Johny Alfonso Romero Rocha)/ Total Play Inc., WIPO D2012-2533 (mitotalplay.com.co, total-play.com.co and totalplay.com.co) (ì) - The respondent offered the domain names for USD50.000

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3.3.1.4. Filing a UDRP Complaint •  How to prove bad faith? (for examples, see UDRP Policy, article 4b):

•  The owner of the domain name (respondent): •  attempted to attract, for commercial gain, Internet users to his/

her/its website or other on-line location, by creating a likelihood of confusion with the complainant's mark as to the source, sponsorship, affiliation, or endorsement of your web site or location or of a product or service on your web site or location;

•  Example: LEGO Juris A/S v. Richard Larkins Sets&Reps, D2012-1024 (several domain names containing “lego” (ì) – Pay-per-click webpage

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Passive holding


3. Resolving Domain Names Disputes > 3.3. The Extra-Judicial Way > 3.3.1. UDRP > 3.3.1.5. Replying to a UDRP Complaint

3.3.1.5. Replying to a UDRP Complaint

•  Using the appropriate online form (ì)



Source:WIPO



•  Main requirements to win the case (UDRP Policy, article 4b a contrario)

•  Respondent must prove: •  the complainant does not have a previous trademark; or •  the domain name is not identical or confusingly similar to

the complainant’s trademark; or •  the respondent has a right or a legitimate interest in

respect to the disputed domain name; or •  the respondent has registered or is using the disputed

domain name in good faith



3.3.1.5. Replying to a UDRP Complaint •  How to prove a right or legitimate interest? (for examples, see UDRP

Policy, article 4c) •  The owner of the domain name (respondent):

•  Has used of, or show demonstrable preparations to use, the domain name or a name corresponding to the domain name in connection with a bona fide offering of goods or services;

•  Is commonly known by the domain name, even if you have acquired no trademark or service mark rights;

•  Is making a legitimate noncommercial or fair use of the domain name, without intent for commercial gain to misleadingly divert consumers or to tarnish the trademark or service mark at issue;

•  etc.

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3.3.1.5. Replying to a UDRP Complaint •  How to prove a right or legitimate interest? (for examples, see UDRP

Policy, article 4c) •  The owner of the domain name (respondent):

•  Is commonly known by the domain name, even if you have acquired no trademark or service mark rights

•  Example: G. A. Modefine S.A. v. A.R. Mani, WIPO D2001-0537 (armani.com)






•  The respondent Is making a legitimate noncommercial or fair use of the domain name, without intent for commercial gain to misleadingly divert consumers or to tarnish the trademark or service mark at issue:

•  The respondent owns a trademark •  The domain name is a generic word •  Freedom of expression

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3. Resolving Domain Names Disputes > 3.3. The Extra-Judicial Way > 3.3.1. UDRP > 3.3.1.6. Outcome

3.3.1.6. Outcome

•  Status quo (complaint denied; respondent wins) •  Transfer of the domain name (complainant wins) •  Cancellation of the domain name (complainant wins)

•  No damages •  No legal costs



3. Resolving Domain Names Disputes > 3.3. The Extra-Judicial Way > 3.3.1. UDRP > 3.3.1.6. Main procedural aspects

3.3.1.6. Main procedural aspects •  Time (about a month) •  Language of the procedure (UDRP Rules, article 11)

•  General rule: the language of the registration contract (contract between the registrar and the owner of the domain name)

•  Exceptions •  See, i.e.

1Verge Internet Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. v. MARY HANSEN/ WhoIsGuard, Inc., WIPO D2013-2207 (fuckyouku.com)



3.3.2. Expansion of the UDRP Model

•  UDRP = great success

•  UDRP model adopted by a large number of registries (gTLDs registries and ccTLDs registries)





•  IANA Root Database (ì)





•  Potentially one dispute resolution system for each TLD


.com, .net, .info, .org, .tv, .co, etc. UDRP

.us (USA) usDRP

.in (India) inDRP

.ca caDRP

.ru and .рф (Russia) No DRP

.de (Germany) No DRP



3.3.2. Expansion of the UDRP Model •  How can we know whether a dispute resolution system exists

for a specific TLD?




First tip

Second tip

3. Resolving Domain Names Disputes 3.3. The Extra-Judicial Way 3.3.3. cnDRP (specificities)



3. Resolving Domain Names Disputes > 3.3. The Extra-Judicial Way > 3.3.3. cnDRP (specificities)

•  For the complainant to succeed (cnDRP Policy, article 8):

•  The disputed domain name is identical with or confusingly similar to the Complainant's name or mark in which the Complainant has civil rights or interests; and

•  The disputed domain name holder has no right or legitimate interest in respect of the domain name or major part of the domain name; and

•  The disputed domain name holder has registered or has been using the domain name in bad faith.



•  For the respondent to succeed (cnDRP Policy, article 10):

•  The complainant has no trademark rights; or •  Respondent’s use of the domain name or a name corresponding

to the domain name in connection with a bona fide offering of goods or services; or

•  You have been commonly known by the domain name, even if you have acquired no trademark or service mark rights; or

•  You are making a legitimate noncommercial or fair use of the domain name, without intent of or commercial gain to misleadingly divert consumers.




•  Time limit:

•  cnDRP Policy, article 2: “the Dispute Resolution Service Providers do not accept the Complaint regarding domain names with registration term of over two years.”

•  Language:

•  cnDRP Policy, article 6: “the language of the domain name dispute resolution proceedings shall be Chinese, unless otherwise agreed by the parties or determined by the Panel.”




3. Resolving Domain Names Disputes 3.3. The Extra-Judicial Way 3.3.4. hkDRP



3. Resolving Domain Names Disputes > 3.3. The Extra-Judicial Way > 3.3.4. hkDRP (specificities)

•  For the complainant to succeed (hkDRP Policy, Article 4a)

i.  the Registrant’s Domain Name is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark or service mark in Hong Kong in which the Complainant has rights; and

ii.  the Registrant has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the Domain Name; and

iii.  the Registrant’s Domain Name has been registered and is being used in bad faith, and

iv.  if the Domain Name is registered by an individual person, the Registrant does not meet the registration requirements for that individual category of Domain Name.



3. Resolving Domain Names Disputes > 3.3. The Extra-Judicial Way > 3.3.4. hkDRP (specificities)

•  Language (hkDRP Rules, Article 11)

“Unless otherwise agreed by the Parties, the language of the arbitration proceedings shall be in English for English .hk domain name, and in Chinese for Chinese .hk domain name or .香港 domain name, subject always to the authority of the Arbitration Panel to determine otherwise, having regard to all the circumstances of the arbitration proceeding”



3. Resolving Domain Names Disputes 3.3. The Extra-Judicial Way 3.3.5. New gTLDs



3. Resolving Domain Names Disputes 3.3. The Extra-Judicial Way 3.3.6. + and –

+ -

Cheap Panelists have a narrow competence (cannot resolve contractual, tort and criminal

matters)

Fast (from 15 to 54 days)

Panelists cannot grant legal costs and damages

Online (no hearings, unless panelists

decide such hearings are necessary)



?



Case study 1



Sammsung.com


Samsungdigital.com


Two disputed domain names •  Sammsung.com •  Samsungdigital.com



WhoIs the owner of Sammsung.com ?

WhoIs the owner of Sammsung.com ?

Private whois = Confidentiality

{ Contact the Registrar /

Registrars have the duty to disclove the id of the registrant

Registrant = owner of the domain

name

WhoIs the owner of Samsungdigital.com ?

WhoIs the owner of Samsungdigital.com ?

Private whois = Confidentiality

{ Contact the Registrar /

Registrars have the duty to disclove the id of the registrant

Registrant = owner of the domain

name

Use of the domain name sammsung.com (1)

AUCTION

BADFAITH

Use of the domain name sammsung.com (2)

Sammsung.com forwarded to samsungdigital.com

Use of the two domain names

Pay-per-clickwebpage/BADFAITH

Wheretofindextra-judicialdecisions?





WIPO Overview of WIPO Panel Views on Selected UDRP Questions, Second Edition ("WIPO Overview 2.0")

Source:WIPO



National Arbitration Forum Database



ADNDRC – HKIAC Database

Case study 2 “Fan Xiao and Hàrmes”

(inspired from Shang Xia and Hermès)



EmmanuelGILLET,PhDEmail:[email protected]:CCBY-NC-ND4.0|2014

Trademark Law and Cyberspace #2: Domain Name System (Lecture at the Hong Kong Polytechnic...

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Transcript of Trademark Law and Cyberspace #2: Domain Name System (Lecture at the Hong Kong Polytechnic...