How to Protect your Brand y in the new .world Kristine Dorrain
Transcription
How to Protect your Brand y in the new .world Kristine Dorrain
How to Protect y your Brand in the new .world Josh Burke Caroline Chicoine General Mills (763) 764-5524 [email protected] Fredrikson & Byron, P.A (314) 991-8486 [email protected] © 2012 Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. Kristine Dorrain National Arbitration Forum (952) 516-6465 [email protected] Domain Names 101 <Second Level Domain> . <Top level domain (TLD)> Example: generalmills.com ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) Registry – entity that operates the TLD Registrar – entities with whom Internet users register domain names in a TLD RPMs (Rights Protection Mechanisms) © 2012 Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. The Numbers Today – 21 gTLDs Bad News 1930 new gTLD applications received by ICANN (1409 different strings) Good G d News N Cannot add more than 1,000 gTLDs/year © 2012 Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. New gTLD Stats Standard Applications – 1846 Community Applications – 84 Applications in a Contention Set - 751 Total IDN Applications – 116 Total Scripts - 12 © 2012 Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. .brand gTLDs © 2012 Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. Generic gTLDs .APP (13) .INC (11) .HOME (11) .ART (10) .SHOP (9) .LLC (9) .BOOK (9) .BLOG BLOG (9) .MUSIC (8) .MOVIE (8) .DESIGN (8) .WEB (7) .STORE (7) .NEWS (7) .MAIL (7) .LTD (7) .LOVE (7) .HOTEL (7) .CLOUD (7) .VIP (6) .TECH (6) .ONLINE (6) .NOW (6) .LAW (6) .GMBH (6) .CPA (6) .CORP (6) .BABY (6) .TICKETS (5) .STYLE STYLE (5) .SITE (5) .SALE (5) .GROUP (5) .GAME (5) .FREE (5) .BUY (5) .VIDEO (4) .TENNIS (4) .TEAM (4) .SOCCER (4) .SHOW (4) .SEARCH (4) .SCHOOL (4) .SALON (4) .RESTAURANT (4) .REALESTATE (4) .RADIO (4) .POCKER (4) .PLAY (4) .PIZZA (4) .MED (4) .LLP LLP (4) .INSURANCE (4) .IMMO (4) .HEALTH (4) .GREEN (4) .GOLF (4) .GAY (4) .FLOWERS (4) .FASHION (4) .ECO (4) .CHAT (4) .CASINO (4) .BET (4) .AUTO (4) Courtesy of BrandShield - http://www.brandshield.com/en/NewgTLDApplicationReport.aspx © 2012 Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. Courtesy of BrandShield - http://www.brandshield.com/en/NewgTLDApplicationReport.aspx © 2012 Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. New gTLD Process From ICANN Applicant Guidebook, Guidebook Module 11, Page 1-4 1-4. © 2012 Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. Timeline for Dispute Resolution att the th TTop Level L l © 2012 Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. Dispute Resolution at the Top Level Public comments (1) whether the applied-for gTLD string is likely to cause security or stability problems in the DNS (2) whether h th the th applicant li th has th the requisite i it technical, operational, and financial capabilities biliti tto operate t a registry i t © 2012 Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. Example of Public Comments • Xerox Corporation After a preliminary evaluation of this application, Xerox Corporation is of the opinion that the inclusion of additional safeguards would improve the operation of this applied-for new gTLD based upon the proposed mission and purpose cited in thi application. this li ti While Whil th there iis no one-size-fits-all i fit ll solution l ti regarding di Ri Rights ht Protection Mechanisms given the diverse range of proposed applications received by ICANN, Xerox Corporation believes that there are some potential best p practices that have begun g to emerge g in connection with applications pp received. For example, over 400 applications have incorporated some type of perpetual block mechanism or Domain Protected Marks List (DPML). By submitting this comment, Xerox Corporation wishes to highlight the need for the ICANN community to engage in an ongoing discussion regarding appropriate proactive safeguards in new gTLD applications. © 2012 Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. Dispute Resolution at the Top Level Formal Objections • String Confusion - the applied for gTLD string is confusingly similar to an existing TLD or to another applied-for gTLD string • Limited Public Interest – the applied for gTLD is contrary to general principles of international law for morality and public order • Legal Rights - the applied-for gTLD string violates the legal rights of the objector • Community - there is substantial opposition to the gTLD application from a significant portion of the community which the gTLD string is targeting © 2012 Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. RPMs at the Top Level L l Ri Legal Rights ht Objection Obj ti (LRO) Applies where the potential use of the applied-for gTLD by the applicant: ( ) takes unfair advantage (i) g of the distinctive character or the reputation p of the objector’s registered or unregistered trademark or service mark (“mark”) or International Government Organization (IGO) name or acronym; or (ii) unjustifiably impairs the distinctive character or the reputation of the objector’s mark or IGO name or acronym; or (iii) otherwise creates an impermissible likelihood of confusion between the applied-for gTLD and the objector’s mark or IGO name or acronym. © 2012 Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. RPMs at the Top Level L l Ri Legal Rights ht Objection Obj ti (LRO) • St Standing di – the th rights i ht h holder ld (i (includes l d common llaw marks) k ) • Dispute Resolution Provider - WIPO • Fees: $10,000 $10 000 USD 2,000 administrative fee $8,000 panel fee (refundable to prevailing party) • Language: English • Word/Page Limits – 5,000 words or 20 pages, whichever less • Response due 30 days after Complaint initiated • Decision D i i approximately i t l 45 d days after ft response fil filed d © 2012 Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. RPMs at the Top Level C Community it Objection Obj ti Applies where there is substantial opposition to the gTLD application from a significant portion of the community to which the gTLD string may be explicitly or implicitly targeted. © 2012 Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. RPMs at the Top Level C Community it Objection Obj ti For an objection to be successful, the objector must prove that: • the community invoked by the objector is a clearly delineated community; and • community opposition to the application is substantial; and • there is a strong association between the community invoked and the applied-for gTLD string; and • the application creates a likelihood of material detriment to th rights the i ht or llegitimate iti t iinterests t t off a significant i ifi t portion ti off the th community to which the string may be explicitly or implicitly g targeted. © 2012 Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. RPMs at the Top Level C Community it Objection Obj ti • Standing – an established institution associated with a clearly delineated community • Dispute Resolution Provider – International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) • Fees: Expensive! • Language: English • Word/Page Limits – 5,000 words or 20 pages, whichever less • Response due 30 days after Complaint initiated • Decision - at least 90 days after response filed © 2012 Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. Existing Dispute Resolution M h i att th Mechanisms the SSecondd LLevell • UDRP • Thick Whois requirement for all new gTLD applicants • Whois Data Problem Reporting System htt // d http://wdprs.internic.net/ i t i t/ • Non-compliance of ICANN accredited Registrar http:reports.internic.net/cgi/registrars/problem report.cgi http:reports.internic.net/cgi/registrars/problem-report.cgi • Non-compliance of ICANN Registry send detailed email to [email protected] • UDRP Intake Form http://www.internic.net/UDRPIntakeReportSystem.html © 2012 Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. One of these things isi nott lik like th the others th © 2012 Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. New Dispute Resolution M h i att th Mechanisms the SSecondd LLevell • Trademark Clearinghouse (Sunrise, Trademark Claims) • Uniform U if R Rapid id S Suspension i (URS) • Trademark Post-Delegation Dispute Resolution Procedure (PDDRP) • Registry Restrictions Dispute Resolution Procedure (RRDRP) © 2012 Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. Trademarks Trademarks Clearinghouse Clearinghouse (TMCH) Josh Burke General Mills What is it? What is it? • A centralized repository for brand owners to register their rights What it does What it does • Gives you access to sunrise registrations • Gives you access to the trademark claims process What it does not do What it does not • Register your brands as domains • Keep anyone else from registering your brands as domains Sunrise Registration Sunrise Registration • Registration of domains before they are made generally available • All new domains will have at least a 30‐day sunrise period Trademark Claims Trademark Claims • Notification to claimants when a domain matching your mark is filed during the start‐up period • Notice to applicant of your rights • All new domains will have at least a 60‐day claims period All new domains will have at least a 60 day claims period What can you register? What can you register? Marks that are: • • • • Registered; Recognized by a court of law; Protected by statute or treaty; or Protected by statute or treaty; or “Another mark that constitutes intellectual property” What can’tt you register? What can you register? Protections apply only to IDENTICAL matches • cascadian‐farms.web • verison.mobile • delta‐airlines.app delta airlines app Do I have to prove use of my mark? • Not required to record marks • Not required to participate in the Trademark Claims process • Required for Sunrise registrations How do I prove use of my mark? How do I prove use of my mark? • A signed declaration; and • A specimen of use • Requirements apply regardless of requirements imposed by the applicable trademark office the applicable trademark office • Proof of use not to be required annually; ICANN suggests every five years How much will it cost? How much will it cost? • • • • Registration on the TMCH is projected to cost $150 per mark Separate fees for sunrise registration Fees for appeal of certain decisions Renewal fees lf How long does a registration last? • Annual renewal • Records can be removed from the TMCH for failure to renew or for loss of underlying rights Appeals • Grant or denial of registration on TMCH • Grant or denial of sunrise registrations • Whether a Claims notice was erroneously sent/not sent Problems with the TMCH Problems with the TMCH • • • • Time limitations Restriction to identical marks Costs L k f Lack of a permanent solution l i New gTLD Dispute Resolution at the t e Second Seco d Level e e Date September 21, 2012 Presented By: Kristine Dorrain Director, Internet and IP Services National Arbitration Forum Types of disputes Disputes over trademarked words At the second level Brand.gTLD Brand descriptor.gTLD Brand+descriptor.gTLD Barnd.gTLD (typo) These are not bulk methods of p protection, but apply pp y to single instances of infringement; though disputes may, in many cases, be aggregated. Dispute Resolution Mechanisms UDRP Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy Incumbent policy; tested with six providers over twelve years and tens of thousands of disputes URS Uniform Rapid Suspension System New policy; based on UDRP, designed to improve it PDDRP Post-Delegation Dispute Resolution Policy May be used against a registry that is complicit in infringement. RRDRP Registry Restrictions Dispute Resolution Policy Applies when a Registry is not sticking to the limitations it has agreed upon with ICANN, regarding who can register. UDRP Rapid dispute resolution process for cybersquatting. Avg 45 days to resolution Doesn’t apply to disputes other than TM disputes St Streamlined li d e-process (email ( il or portal) t l) http://www.icann.org/en/help/dndr/udrp/policy URS Rapid dispute resolution process for cybersquatting Avg 30 days to resolution Doesn’t apply to disputes other than TM disputes (marks must be registered or validated with TMCH) Streamlined e-process “F “Form” ” complaints l i t and d responses Incomplete, draft policy only (no rules or implementation available yet) http://archive.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/ursclean-19sep11-en.pdf p p Highlights: How UDRP and URS Compare URS Comp. filed 2 days Admin. Review Same day Lock request q Same day Resp. Served 14 days Exam 3 days Determination 30 days to 6 months th Late Resp. p 14 days Appeal Approx. 3-4 3 4 wks Final Decision (20 200 (20-200 days) UDRP Comp. p filed 3 days Lock request 1-15 days Admin. Review 1-5 days Resp. p Served 20 days Exam 14 days Final Decision (30-45 days) Highlights: How UDRP and URS Compare The Complaint UDRP URS Fees set by the Provider and refund ability is left to Provider discretion Fees “suggested” by ICANN to be around $300; fees nonrefundable. C Complaint l i t can b be as d detailed t il d as necessary C Complaint l i t iis ““simple i l and d fformulaic” l i ” Registered and common law marks form basis for disputes Registered marks that can show use, marks validated through court, and marks protected by statute or treaty form basis of dispute N prooff off use required No i d P f off use (or Proof ( TMCH validation) lid ti ) required i d Bad faith registration AND use required Bad faith registration AND use required Highlights: How UDRP and URS Compare Prior to Commencement/Service UDRP URS Complainant required to serve Respondent; at least two Providers require q service upon p Registrar g Complainant doesn’t serve Respondent Provider typically notifies Registrar of dispute in attempt to “lock” the domain immediately upon filing and will do the full compliance check when the lock is confirmed. Registrar is not expressly l required i d tto reply. l Provider notifies Registry of dispute when compliance check is complete; registry required to lock domain name within 24 hours. Compliance check occurs within three days and Complainant has five days to rectify administrative filing errors Compliance check occurs—Complaint is dismissed if there are administrative errors fatal to the filing. Complaint served upon respondent (case is commenced) by Provider after administrative deficiencies are remedied. Complaint is served upon respondent (case is commenced) by Provider after lock is confirmed. Highlights: How UDRP and URS Compare Response UDRP URS Respondent has 20 days to respond Respondent has 14 days to respond Respondent doesn’tt pay to respond Respondent doesn pay to respond Respondent pays to respond where there are fifteen or more domain Respondent pays to respond where there are fifteen or more domain names in dispute. Provides a similar list of defenses; calls out uses that are specifically NOT bad faith absent other information, such as holding a large portfolio of domain names or engaging in PPC marketing If the Response is late, the domain name will go back to resolving to If the Response is late, the domain name will go back to resolving to the original IP Address, until a new Determination (de novo) is issued. A response may be filed up to 30 days after a Determination (decision) at no additional charge (if one has not been filed yet). A response may be filed up to six months after that, for a fee. (A six month extension is also permitted.) p ) Response fee is refundable to the prevailing party. Provides a non‐exhaustive list of defenses for Respondent No late Response No late Response Once the decision is issued, no further submissions are considered. Highlights: How UDRP and URS Compare Panel Appointment UDRP URS Either party can request (and pay for) a three‐member panel No three member panel option Burden of proof not specified, but is typically considered to be “preponderance of the evidence.” Outcome, if “for complainant” is complainant‐elected transfer or cancellation. Burden of proof specified as “clear and convincing evidence.” Allows for a finding of Reverse Domain Name Hijacking if complaint All f fi di f i Hij ki if l i was brought frivolously. Outcome is suspension of the domain names for their remaining term and redirection to a page indicating that the name was subject to a URS dispute. Complainant can extend the suspension for a year. All Allows for a finding of abuse or “deliberate material falsehood.” f fi di f b “d lib i lf l h d” Penalties limiting or forbidding future filings under the URS apply. Findings appear to attach to complainant, not counsel. Highlights: How UDRP and URS Compare Appeal pp UDRP No appeal No appeal Subsequent process limited to litigation URS Appeal permitted by either party: Appeal permitted by either party: Additional fee New panelist (single) Only evidence pre‐dating the original complaint may be submitted. Appeal must be filed within 14 days Appellee must Respond within 14 days Appellee must Respond within 14 days Remainder of the process left to Providers Parties may file a UDRP or pursue litigation if unsuccessful in URS Special Policies for Special Situations TRADEMARK POST-DELEGATION DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCEDURE (TRADEMARK PDDRP) http://archive.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/pddrp-clean19sep11-en 19sep11 en.pdf pdf Where a new gTLD registry operator has, through “affirmative conduct,” so managed the gTLD that either the TLD itself, or domain names in the second level level, infringe the complainant’s complainant s marks. It is not enough that a registry knows of infringement, but that “a registry operator has a pattern or practice of actively and systematically y y encouraging g g registrants g to register g second level domain names and to take unfair advantage of the trademark to the extent and degree that bad faith is apparent.” Special Policies for Special Situations REGISTRY RESTRICTIONS DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCEDURE (RRDRP) http://archive.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/rrdrp-clean-19sep11en pdf en.pdf “Escalation policy” for when a complaint to ICANN that a community-based TLD is not abiding by its announced restrictions is not remedying the problem problem. The remedies are recommendations that the Expert Panel makes to ICANN regarding what action ICANN should take against the registry, if any. y Whois Good News G Thick Whois required for all new gTLD applicants! Bad News Does not apply to .com (yet!) © 2012 Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. Thin Whois record Domain Name: ICANN.COM Registrar: REGISTER.COM, INC. Whois Server: whois.register.com Referral URL: http://www.register.com Name Server: A.IANA-SERVERS.NET Name Server: B.IANA-SERVERS.ORG Name Server: C.IANA-SERVERS.NET Name Server: D.IANA-SERVERS.NET Name Server: NS.ICANN.ORG Status: clientDeleteProhibited Status: clientRenewProhibited Status: clientTransferProhibited Status: clientUpdateProhibited Updated Date: 27-jun-2008 Creation Date: 14-sep-1998 Expiration Date: 07-dec-2013 © 2012 Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. THANKS! Josh Burke General Mills (763) 764-5524 [email protected] Caroline Chicoine Fredrikson & Byron, P.A (314) 991 991-8486 8486 [email protected] Kristine Dorrain National Arbitration Forum (952) 516-6465 [email protected] © 2012 Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.