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WIPO reports record number of cybersquatters |
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Written by Felix Da Silva (fdasilva@bitnip.com)
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Friday, 28 March 2008 |
 The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) received 2,156 complaints alleging "abusive registration of trademarks on the
Internet" last year, up 18 percent from 2006 and 48 percent more than the
filings lodged in 2005.
According to the press release from WIPO, most complaints came from the pharmaceutical, banking, telecommunications,
retail and entertainment sectors.
Francis Gurry, WIPO's deputy director-general said on Thursday,
These increases confirm that 'cybersquatting' remains a significant issue for
rights holders. [Drugmakers were the top filers] due to numerous permutations of protected names
registered for Web sites offering or linking to online sales of medications and
drugs. Last year's domain name disputes includes Airbus's A380 jet, the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Harvard
Business School, Lance Armstrong's Livestrong foundation and much more.
A quarter of cases were settled without a WIPO panel decision. Of the
remainder, in 85 percent of cases the panels transferred the disputed domain
names to the complainant, and in 15 percent the panel ordered no change of the
site registration.
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