Tackling Domain Name Disputes

Last week, I met Geetha and Steph in their office, KASS International. Their company has been solving domain name disputes in Malaysia since year 2003.

In 2006, KASS helped Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in a domain name dispute against an Iranian who registered the domain name <www.asiancup2007.com>. The cybersquatter had the cheek to offer the site to AFC for USD 19,000. KASS submitted a complaint to WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organisation) who then ordered the site to be transferred to AFC.

The WIPO Panel said that the Iranian’s claim that he was not aware that AFC was the main organizer for the Asian Cup 2007 event strikes as “disingenuous” and “unconvincing”. The WIPO Panel said that the Iranian was free-riding on the fame of AFC’s event, AFC’s logos and marks.

In Malaysia, domain name disputes are brought to the Regional Centre for Arbitration Kuala Lumpur (KLRCA). To date, a total of eighteen .my domain name disputes have been processed, including volkswagen.com.my (2003), nikon.com.my (2005), simedarby.com.my (2007) and google.my (2009). For a list of all eighteen .my domain name disputes, have a look at KASS’s August 2009 newsletter

“All .my domain name dispute resolutions are governed by the MYDRP, the Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy prepared by MyNIC Berhad, the registry and registrar for the .my domain . Domain name disputes can be resolved through a domain name dispute Resolution Proceeding or the domain name dispute can be resolved before a Malaysian Court and / or other dispute resolution measures,” said Geetha K., Director of Trademarks & Industrial Designs Division.

KASS also has a facebook page where they have active discussions on current IP issues, music piracy, inventions and more.Photos on recent activities by the KASS team can be found there too. Check it out at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kuala-Lumpur-Malaysia/KASS-International-Sdn-Bhd/72146675129?v=photos