WIPO does not deter cybersquatters

Cybersquatters are not deterred from commandeering websites by the World Intellectual Property Organisation's (WIPO) Arbitration and Mediation Centre, it has been claimed.

According to Computer World, when the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) introduced the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy ten years ago, businesses were given a reliable, non-legal route to regain control of illegitimately used domain names.

However, the website states that quick arbitration has done little to stop cybersqautters from taking control of domain names which contain copyrighted or trademarked keywords.

The process still puts the onus on the defendant to win back any domain names that are being used for nefarious purposes.

Verzion Communication's vice-president and associate general counsel Sarah Deutsche told the news provider: "We're on track to bring in nine million new visitors, just from the names we've been able to get back."

Meanwhile, ICANN wants to create an intellectual property rights database, which would be used to see if any domain names registered by internet users infringed the rights of any third parties.

Written by Debra Hastings-Henry