Purpose and Format of the WorkshopEncouraged by the success of the previous two editions, the Center plans to hold its third Advanced Workshop on Domain Name Dispute Resolution in Geneva on Thursday, October 18 and Friday, October 19, 2007.The WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center’s domain name dispute resolution service gives effect to the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP), adopted by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) at the recommendation of WIPO. The UDRP provides holders of trademark rights with an administrative mechanism for the efficient resolution of disputes arising out of the bad-faith registration and use by third parties of Internet domain names corresponding to those trademark rights. The UDRP applies to disputes in the generic top-level domains (gTLDs) .com, .net and .org and subsequently introduced gTLDs, as well as an increasing number of country code top-level domains (ccTLDs). The principal remedy available under the UDRP is the transfer of the domain name. In December 1999, the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center received its first case under the UDRP. As of December 2006, trademark owners from around the world had filed more than 10,000 such cases with the Center.The Advanced Workshop will focus mainly on the trends of UDRP decisions with regard to the most important substantive and procedural issues. Thus, in addition to those wishing to gain insight into the UDRP mechanism, this Advanced Workshop is of particular interest to those who have been or who may become involved in UDRP proceedings. The Advanced Workshop also represents an opportunity for registrars and ccTLD administrators to increase their knowledge of UDRP decisions.The instructors include three experienced WIPO panelists and a trademark counsel with extensive domain name expertise. The instructors will introduce selected topics and will discuss these with the participants on the basis of UDRP case scenarios.Instructors
- David H. BERNSTEIN, Debevoise & Plimpton, New York, United States of America
- Scott DONAHEY, Arbitrator and Mediator, Palo Alto, United States of America
- Aimee GESSNER, Senior Trademark Counsel, BMW AG, Munich, Germany
- Wolter WEFERS BETTINK, Houthoff Buruma, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Venue, Timetable and Working LanguageThe Workshop will be held at the headquarters of WIPO, 34, chemin des Colombettes, Geneva, Switzerland. It will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Participants should arrive before 8.30 a.m. on the first day of the Workshop, in order to complete their registration. The working language of the Workshop will be English. Proficiency in that language is necessary for participation.Please note that during the same week, on October 16 and 17, 2007, the Center will be holding a WIPO Arbitration Workshop. The program and registration form for this event are available at http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/events/workshops/2007/arbitration/.ProgramThe Advanced Workshop will focus on the following subjects:
- Legal Framework of the UDRP
- Trends of WIPO Panel Decisions under the Substantive UDRP Criteria:
- trademark rights and identity or confusing similarity of the domain name
- rights or legitimate interests of the domain name registrant
- bad-faith registration and use of the domain name
* Panel Views and Center Practices on the Principal Procedural UDRP Issues
* A Trademark Owner’s Perspective on Domain Name Registration and Trademark Enforcement StrategiesOther topics that will be covered:
- Update on WIPO UDRP Statistics
- UDRP Information Resources
- Role of Precedent under the UDRP
- New Top-Level Domains and Other Developments in the Domain Name System
The discussions will be based on situations drawn from actual UDRP cases. Participants will be provided with UDRP documentation and other relevant materials.Participation and FeeThe Workshop is open to all interested persons. Participation will be limited to 50 persons.The registration fee is 1,400 Swiss francs, which covers participation in the Workshop, training materials, luncheons, morning and afternoon coffee and tea each day, and a cocktail reception at the end of the first day. The registration fee of 1,400 Swiss francs is to be settled on return of the registration form.Please note that the registration fee will be refunded only for cancellations received before September 17, 2007.Continuing Legal Education (CLE)If you wish to apply for CLE credit, please indicate so on the registration form.Registration and Further InformationThose wishing to register are requested to either register on-line via https://webaccess.wipo.int/dn07/ or to return the registration form to the following address, from which further information (including, upon request, references to past participants) may also be obtained:WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
34, chemin des Colombettes, 1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland
Tel: (41-22) 338 7550 – Fax: (41-22) 338 7190
E-mail: arbiter.meetings@wipo.int
http://www.wipo.int/amc/