Just as the 50,000th domain name dispute was filed at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), I had the privilege to interview two of the people who shoulder much of the responsibility for the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP).
In our half-hour video conversation, I talked with Erik Wilbers, director of WIPO’s Arbitration and Mediation Center; and Brian Beckham, head of the Center’s Internet Dispute Resolution Section.
Shortly after our discussion, WIPO issued a press release about its 50,000th domain name dispute, calling it “a major milestone capping two decades of pro-consumer activity ensuring Internet users can easily find genuine sites for the brands they love and trust.”
In my interview with Erik and Brian, they disclose more details about this important case (the disputed domain name is <discoverbankk.com>), why UDRP complaints are on the rise, and how WIPO is handling an ongoing surge in domain name disputes even during the coronavirus pandemic.
A few highlights:
Domain name dispute filings in 2020 at WIPO (which include UDRP cases as well as those under a number of other policies) have already surpassed the total for 2019 and are on track for a 10 to 12 percent increase this year — another record (as I also document in GigaLaw’s Domain Dispute Digest).
Five of WIPO’s six busiest months since adoption of the UDRP in 1999 have occurred in 2020. (Previous blog post: “How WIPO Handles Domain Name Disputes During a Pandemic.”)
More than 100 domain name disputes have been filed at WIPO that contain “corona”- or “covid”-related terms since the pandemic. (Previous blog post: “Cybersquatters Take Advantage of 'Coronavirus' Domain Names.”)
In recent years, domain name disputes involving privacy or proxy services have been increasing about 4 percent per year, contributing to the increase in filings. (Watch episode 10 of the GigaLaw masterclass on domain name disputes, “Privacy Services and the GDPR.”)
More than three-quarters of UDRP filings and decisions cite the WIPO Overview, a detailed document that summarizes “consensus panel views on a range of common and important substantive and procedural issues.”
Watch our entire conversation below (running time: 34:28) or on the GigaLaw YouTube channel.
