[Gnso-ppsai-pdp-wg] Mandatory Reveal in Context of Allegations that a Domain Name is Infringing Trademark

Tue Oct 28 19:38:11 UTC 2014

Phil,

With respect to Reveal in the context of allegations that a domain name is infringing, we advocate Disclosure (to the Requestor only) of information sufficient to help the Requestor determine if further action against the Customer is warranted.  This is especially important in the context of IP rights enforcement.  Disclosure of the Customer's identity would help the Requestor determine, before having to file a URS or UDRP, whether or not the Customer:

-has legitimate rights in the domain name;
-is a cybersquatter;
-is stockpiling domain names, without adding any website content; or
-has prior UDRP decisions against him or her.

All of the foregoing indicate bad faith registration and use of the domain name. As Paul pointed out on today's call, the Requestor must be able to  ascertain  this  information  before it is obliged undergo the time and expense of bringing a UDRP or other legal proceeding.  In that way, it can possibly avoid the need for a UDRP. And if it has to bring a UDRP, it can do so in good faith. That is why Disclosure is valuable in cases involving infringing domain names, not just infringing website content.

To address another point that has come up in the past, Disclosure does not equate to a finding of guilt. Disclosure is not a remedy of the UDRP or the URS; it would occur before a case is decided on  the merits. It is my understanding that once a UDRP is filed, one or both of the following generally happens: 1) registrar receives a request for information to confirm registrant, which it then sends to the Complainant to amend the Complaint; or 2) the P/P Provider named in the complaint discloses or publishes the information. So under the status quo, there generally is a Reveal before a decision on the merits, but only after the Requestor is forced to file a complaint, without essential information, at a high cost. As you correctly observed, not all allegations are successful -- we don't want to encourage more with a policy that requires premature legal actions.

Best regards,

Val

Valeriya Sherman
Silverberg, Goldman & Bikoff, L.L.P.
1101 30th Street, N.W.
Suite 120
Washington, D.C. 20007
Tel 202.944.3300
Cell 303.589.7477
vsherman at sgbdc.com<mailto:vsherman at law.gwu.edu>
________________________________
From: gnso-ppsai-pdp-wg-bounces at icann.org [gnso-ppsai-pdp-wg-bounces at icann.org] on behalf of Volker Greimann [vgreimann at key-systems.net]
Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2014 12:37 PM
To: gnso-ppsai-pdp-wg at icann.org
Subject: Re: [Gnso-ppsai-pdp-wg] Mandatory Reveal in Context of Allegations that a Domain Name is Infringing Trademark

Hi Phil,

I agree that a mere allegation is never enough for any form of required result. The bar needs to be set a lot higher, such as a sworn statement that includes legal consequences in case any part of it is incorrect that would allow the injured party and the provider to sue the pants off of the complainant.

Also, the violation must be clear and obvious to an untrained third party observer, which is usually not the case in trademark violation due to the fact that trademark law is simply too complex for a layman to understand. And frankly, there also is no need for an immediate reveal as there are, as you point out, already sufficient means to deal with such cases.

As for content, that is a hosting issue outside the realm of ICANN. Go to the hosting provider instead. Infringing content has nothing to do with the domain name whatsoever.

Best,

Volker

Am 28.10.2014 17:30, schrieb Phil Corwin:

I want to reiterate the concerns I raised during today's call about recommending a policy that would require a privacy/proxy provider (PPP) to reveal/disclose a registrant's identity and contact information based on a mere allegation that the domain name is infringing a trademark.

ICANN has established the URDP and URS to deal with such allegations. And every day WIPO, NAF, and other providers deny complainant allegations. In fact, it appears that instances of attempted reverse domain hijacking are on the rise.

A registrant who is targeted in a UDRP or URS has a choice of responding (in which case they will be revealing their identity) or to default and let the provider decide the allegation based solely upon the complaint. The proposed policy would compel disclosure of registrant data even when no UDRP, URS, or trademark infringement litigation was filed, or even if the allegation was subsequently found to fail to meet the required burden of proof.

I am not convinced by arguments that such mandatory disclosure might facilitate resolution absent the filing of arbitration or litigation. That can be accomplished by requiring the PPP to relay a cease-and-desist letter or other communication to the registrant. Mandatory disclosure based on an unproven allegation does not further the claimed goal.

Summing up, I believe that our WG should not create any new policy related to allegations of TM infringement by a domain name but should leave this issue to the new gTLD RPM and UDRP review that will be commencing next spring.

As for allegations of trademark infringement based upon a  website's content that is a separate matter. However, I believe our discussions should recognize that PPPs are unlikely to weigh the merits of an allegation and that their likely default position will be to reveal registrant data once a complaint addresses all the relevant points required by any new policy on this subject. Given that likelihood, we should certainly consider the extent to which such a policy might be abused by a private sector or governmental actor.

Thank you for taking these views into account.

Philip S. Corwin, Founding Principal
Virtualaw LLC
1155 F Street, NW
Suite 1050
Washington, DC 20004
202-559-8597/Direct
202-559-8750/Fax
202-255-6172/cell

Twitter: @VlawDC

"Luck is the residue of design" -- Branch Rickey

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