[gnso-rpm-wg] Questionable UDRPs & TM applications

Volker Greimann vgreimann at key-systems.net
Mon Aug 22 07:55:07 UTC 2016


Come on guys, play nice!

VG


Am 21.08.2016 um 09:15 schrieb Greg Shatan:
> Wow.  Not sure what I did to merit _that_ email.  I thought we were 
> supposed to "play nice."
>
> Clearly, I didn't write that email to "feel better." I did it to put a 
> marker down that there were allegations made in this thread that can 
> and will be rebutted when the time comes.  Our co-Chair asked us to 
> move on and I respected that request.  But I didn't want anyone to 
> think these statements were correct or generally agreed to just 
> because there was no substantive response on this thread.
>
> We can move on now (in fact, I thought we already had -- that was kind 
> of the point of the prior email). But we'll be back.
>
> On Saturday, August 20, 2016, Paul at law.es <mailto:Paul at law.es> ZIMBRA 
> <paul at law.es <mailto:paul at law.es>> wrote:
>
>     Greg,  do you feel better now?
>
>     Can we move on?
>
>     Paul Keating
>
>     On 20 Aug 2016, at 7:43 PM, Greg Shatan <gregshatanipc at gmail.com
>     <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','gregshatanipc at gmail.com');>> wrote:
>
>>     I had drafted a lengthy response to some of the earlier emails in
>>     this thread, but out of respect for our co-Chair's request, I'll
>>     "bookmark" it in my drafts folder for the appropriate time -- in
>>     spite of Paul McGrady's wise counsel that "in ICANNland, bad
>>     ideas get traction unless immediately confronted."
>>
>>     As for "playing nice," I will point out that Paul McGrady's email
>>     regarding potentially requiring financial disclosures by domain
>>     name applicants was in response to George's email suggestion to
>>     require financial disclosures by UDRP complainants, not (as
>>     assumed) the earlier "proof of use" suggestion. Thus, the
>>     scolding to "play nice" was predicated on a false premise and
>>     completely uncalled-for.  On a topic where passions run high and
>>     imaginations run unchecked, it's probably a wise thing to check
>>     what people are responding to before responding to them.
>>
>>     I find it amusing that the command to "play nice" was issued
>>     almost the first time somebody said something remotely
>>     unfavorable to respondents, on a thread previously devoted almost
>>     entirely to impugning, narrowing the rights of and raising the
>>     bar for trademark owners -- often based on statements that were
>>     far more deserving of that cautionary command. While many of
>>     these statements were highly rebuttable (to say the least...),
>>     I'll hold the catalogue of rebuttals for when the time comes.
>>
>>     Greg
>>
>>     On Sat, Aug 20, 2016 at 12:58 PM, Paul McGrady
>>     <policy at paulmcgrady.com
>>     <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','policy at paulmcgrady.com');>> wrote:
>>
>>         Thanks Paul K.,
>>
>>         Your suggestion of tabling this is very welcome.  Even so, I
>>         think we have to make sure that we don’t imply other thinkers
>>         aren’t “playing nice” if we try to find the right balance of
>>         reciprocal obligations in UDRP reform (assuming the UDRP is
>>         ever diagnosed as needing reform).  I expect this will become
>>         a topic when these issues are visited at the proper time.  We
>>         will all have to be very patient, at that time, with the long
>>         wish lists that appear to have been growing over the last
>>         decade.
>>
>>         Best,
>>
>>         Paul
>>
>>         Paul D. McGrady, Jr.
>>
>>         policy at paulmcgrady.com
>>         <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','policy at paulmcgrady.com');>
>>
>>         *From:*Paul at law.es
>>         <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','Paul at law.es');> ZIMBRA
>>         [mailto:paul at law.es
>>         <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','paul at law.es');>]
>>         *Sent:* Saturday, August 20, 2016 11:18 AM
>>         *To:* Paul McGrady <policy at paulmcgrady.com
>>         <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','policy at paulmcgrady.com');>>
>>         *Cc:* George Kirikos <icann at leap.com
>>         <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','icann at leap.com');>>;
>>         gnso-rpm-wg at icann.org
>>         <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','gnso-rpm-wg at icann.org');>
>>
>>
>>         *Subject:* Re: [gnso-rpm-wg] Questionable UDRPs & TM applications
>>
>>         Paul,
>>
>>         Let's play nice. Proof of use is certainly not a financial
>>         disclosure and I would think any trademark holder acting in
>>         good faith should have no problem, showing actual use.
>>
>>         At any rate lets table this for the appropriate moment.
>>
>>         Paul Keating
>>
>>
>>         On 20 Aug 2016, at 4:45 PM, Paul McGrady
>>         <policy at paulmcgrady.com
>>         <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','policy at paulmcgrady.com');>> wrote:
>>
>>             Thanks George. An interesting idea.  I wonder how
>>             Respondents would feel about a reciprocal requirement
>>             that they turn over audited financial statements in order
>>             to have standing to register a domain name?  You might
>>             have finally cooked up the deterrent to cybersquatting in
>>             the first place!
>>
>>             Regards,
>>             Paul
>>
>>
>>             Paul D. McGrady, Jr.
>>             policy at paulmcgrady.com
>>             <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','policy at paulmcgrady.com');>
>>
>>
>>
>>             -----Original Message-----
>>             From: gnso-rpm-wg-bounces at icann.org
>>             <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','gnso-rpm-wg-bounces at icann.org');>
>>             [mailto:gnso-rpm-wg-bounces at icann.org
>>             <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','gnso-rpm-wg-bounces at icann.org');>]
>>             On Behalf Of George Kirikos
>>             Sent: Saturday, August 20, 2016 8:20 AM
>>             To: gnso-rpm-wg at icann.org
>>             <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','gnso-rpm-wg at icann.org');>
>>             Subject: Re: [gnso-rpm-wg] Questionable UDRPs & TM
>>             applications
>>
>>             To participate in a new gTLD sunrise period, a TMCH
>>             markholder must submit a proof of use, see
>>             question/answer 2.2 through 2.4 of:
>>
>>             https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/about/trademark-clearinghouse/faqs
>>             <https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/about/trademark-clearinghouse/faqs>
>>
>>             The justification for that requirement was to prevent
>>             gaming. This rule was established before sunrise periods
>>             even came about for new gTLDs, as folks expected abuse if
>>             the proof of use requirement did not exist (and they saw
>>             what happened in the .EU sunrise).
>>
>>             The same principle should apply to the UDRP, given the
>>             *actual* abuse we're observing, as folks exploit gaping
>>             loopholes in the policy. In the 1990s, the drafters of
>>             the UDRP either did not contemplate these kinds of
>>             attacks, or did not appreciate the potential severity of
>>             the problem. To not eliminate those loopholes would
>>             invite further abuse of domain name registrants.
>>
>>             We're not at that disussion point yet, but when we get
>>             there I will suggest going much further than simply using
>>             "proof of use" for standing requirements of the UDRP. If
>>             there was an actual lawsuit, it's almost a certainty that
>>             revenues generated by the trademarked goods/services
>>             would need to be presented to the courts. If UDRP
>>             complainants had to file audited financials relating to
>>             actual revenues generated from their mark, that would go
>>             a long way to eliminating abuse of the procedure by
>>             trademark trolls.
>>
>>             Sincerely,
>>
>>             George Kirikos
>>             416-588-0269 <tel:416-588-0269>
>>             http://www.leap.com/
>>
>>             On Sat, Aug 20, 2016 at 8:52 AM, Paul McGrady
>>             <policy at paulmcgrady.com
>>             <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','policy at paulmcgrady.com');>>
>>             wrote:
>>
>>                 While I think this subject is several months
>>                 premature, and I don’t
>>
>>                 want to wade in on the substance at this time, we
>>                 should note that
>>
>>                 what is being suggested here is that ICANN give
>>                 preference to certain
>>
>>                 national trademark regimes and disregard others. 
>>                 Tricky topic in
>>
>>                 ICANNland for sure, especially these days.
>>
>>                 Best to all,
>>
>>                 Paul
>>
>>                 Paul D. McGrady, Jr.
>>
>>                 policy at paulmcgrady.com
>>                 <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','policy at paulmcgrady.com');>
>>
>>                 From: gnso-rpm-wg-bounces at icann.org
>>                 <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','gnso-rpm-wg-bounces at icann.org');>
>>
>>
>>                 [mailto:gnso-rpm-wg-bounces at icann.org
>>                 <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','gnso-rpm-wg-bounces at icann.org');>]
>>
>>                 On Behalf Of Edward Morris
>>
>>                 Sent: Friday, August 19, 2016 6:53 PM
>>
>>                 To: Phil Corwin <psc at vlaw-dc.com
>>                 <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','psc at vlaw-dc.com');>>
>>
>>                 Cc: gnso-rpm-wg at icann.org
>>                 <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','gnso-rpm-wg at icann.org');>
>>
>>                 Subject: Re: [gnso-rpm-wg] Questionable UDRPs & TM
>>                 applications
>>
>>                 Excellent point, Phil.
>>
>>                 Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>                 On 20 Aug 2016, at 00:49, Phil Corwin
>>                 <psc at vlaw-dc.com
>>                 <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','psc at vlaw-dc.com');>> wrote:
>>
>>                 This suggests to me that all trademarks are not
>>                 created equal, and
>>
>>                 that when we reach our UDRP work we may wish to
>>                 address the issue of
>>
>>                 whether a certain quality of trademark should be
>>                 required for filing a UDRP.
>>
>>                 Philip S. Corwin, Founding Principal
>>
>>                 Virtualaw LLC
>>
>>                 1155 F Street, NW
>>
>>                 Suite 1050
>>
>>                 Washington, DC 20004
>>
>>                 202-559-8597 <tel:202-559-8597>/Direct
>>
>>                 202-559-8750 <tel:202-559-8750>/Fax
>>
>>                 202-255-6172 <tel:202-255-6172>/Cell
>>
>>                 Twitter: @VlawDC
>>
>>                 "Luck is the residue of design" -- Branch Rickey
>>
>>                 From: gnso-rpm-wg-bounces at icann.org
>>                 <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','gnso-rpm-wg-bounces at icann.org');>
>>
>>
>>                 [mailto:gnso-rpm-wg-bounces at icann.org
>>                 <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','gnso-rpm-wg-bounces at icann.org');>]
>>
>>                 On Behalf Of Emil
>>
>>                 Sent: Friday, August 19, 2016 5:44 PM
>>
>>                 To: Paul Keating
>>
>>                 Cc: gnso-rpm-wg at icann.org
>>                 <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','gnso-rpm-wg at icann.org');>
>>
>>                 Subject: Re: [gnso-rpm-wg] Questionable UDRPs & TM
>>                 applications
>>
>>                 Paul, thank you for appreciating my concern.
>>
>>                 I am very pleased to see that I can bring value in
>>                 this exclusive
>>
>>                 community of professionals.
>>
>>                 In the last 12 years I've seen a lot of cases where
>>                 legitimate SMEs
>>
>>                 get bullied with the "we'll get your domain" threat
>>                 based on abusive
>>
>>                 TM registrations, mostly postdating the domain name
>>                 registration
>>
>>                 dates. In some cases I am very familiar with the
>>                 patterns - as in how
>>
>>                 relatively established website owners try to game the
>>                 system - concrete ways.
>>
>>                 This is a major problem in certain countries of
>>                 Europe (eastern block)
>>
>>                 and outside Europe (countries like Tunisia let's say)
>>                 where you can
>>
>>                 theoretically register any trademark even if it is
>>                 not necessarily
>>
>>                 distinctive, special nor recognizable.
>>
>>                 On 20 Aug 2016 00:15, Paul Keating <Paul at law.es
>>                 <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','Paul at law.es');>> wrote:
>>
>>                 This and comments such as George's should not be
>>                 lost.  These comments
>>
>>                 need to be retained and specifically addressed during
>>                 the UDRP portion of the WG.
>>
>>                 From: <gnso-rpm-wg-bounces at icann.org
>>                 <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','gnso-rpm-wg-bounces at icann.org');>>
>>                 on behalf of Emil <emil at cv.ro
>>                 <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','emil at cv.ro');>>
>>
>>                 Date: Friday, August 19, 2016 4:30 PM
>>
>>                 To: George Kirikos <icann at leap.com
>>                 <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','icann at leap.com');>>
>>
>>                 Cc: <gnso-rpm-wg at icann.org
>>                 <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','gnso-rpm-wg at icann.org');>>
>>
>>                 Subject: Re: [gnso-rpm-wg] Questionable UDRPs & TM
>>                 applications
>>
>>                 George, often TM registrations are granted on bogus
>>                 or strange claims.
>>
>>                 For example Christian Louboutin was granted a TM for
>>                 red shoes
>>
>>                 outsole. By this logic BMW could be granted a TM for
>>                 silver cars.
>>
>>                 In the domain world:
>>
>>                 There is a car rental company called
>>                 economycarrentals.com <http://economycarrentals.com>.
>>                 They tried
>>
>>                 to obtain a TM at European level for "economy car
>>                 rentals", a super
>>
>>                 generic term used by thousands of rental agencies.
>>                 Why? So that they
>>
>>                 can claim economyrentacar.com
>>                 <http://economyrentacar.com> and
>>                 economyrentalcars.com <http://economyrentalcars.com>
>>                 in WIPO - the
>>
>>                 EMD of their main competitor.
>>
>>                 They were refused (now twice) an EM Europe Wide
>>                 trademark for lack of
>>
>>                 distinctiveness but went on and tried at country
>>                 level. A handfull of
>>
>>                 countries allowed them to register a word (not
>>                 figurative) trademark
>>
>>                 on "economy car rentals" a dictionary super generic
>>                 formulation. Now
>>
>>                 they will threaten & hussle with a WIPO arbitration
>>                 all the local TLD
>>
>>                 owners for those particular countries.
>>
>>                 Emil
>>
>>                 _______________________________________________
>>                 gnso-rpm-wg mailing
>>
>>                 list gnso-rpm-wg at icann.org
>>                 <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','gnso-rpm-wg at icann.org');>
>>
>>                 https://mm.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/gnso-rpm-wg
>>                 <https://mm.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/gnso-rpm-wg>
>>
>>                 ________________________________
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>>
>
>
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