WIPO reveals record cybersquatting numbers for 2008

New figures have shown that levels of domain name cybersquatting rose to a record high last year.

According to the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center, 2,329 complaints were filed under its Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) in 2008, up eight per cent compared with the previous year.

Overall, WIPO said that it had handled 14,663 cybersquatting cases since the launch of the UDRP in December 2009, with 26,262 separate domain names being covered.

Allegations were most commonly brought by and against companies and trademarks based in the US, France, the UK, Germany, Switzerland and Spain, with many cases tending to relate to the biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, banking and finance, internet and IT, retail and food, beverages and restaurants sectors.

Francis Gurry, director-general at WIPO, said: "Cybersquatting remains a serious issue for trademark holders."

MarkMonitor revealed earlier this month that a range of brand abuse tactics - including cybersquatting, pay-per-click abuse and false association - increased in usage worldwide last year.

Written by Debra Hastings-Henry