This month, we’re switching things up! Instead of our usual AMA, we’re hosting an ICA December Social — a fun, casual call where members can connect, chat about domains, ICA updates, the upcoming Annual Member Meeting, or anything else that’s top of mind. We’re keeping the vibe light and lively, and there may even be some surprise games to keep …
Panel: Complainant’s Certification “Could Not Properly Have Been Given” – vol. 4.49
Panel: Complainant’s Certification “Could Not Properly Have Been Given” “First come, first served” is a particularly compelling and clear general principle that one learns in childhood, but it is equally applicable to UDRP disputes as the Panel found in this case. The Panel noted that the Respondent had registered the .com Domain Name back in 2009 – six years prior …
Genuine Criticism Websites Enjoy Safe Harbor Under UDRP – vol. 4.48
Genuine Criticism Websites Enjoy Safe Harbor Under UDRP The Panel correctly dismissed the Complaint. Whether one has sympathy or not for the target of a critical website, and whether or not one believes that the UDRP can be adapted to address cases of unfair or defamatory websites, the fact is that the UDRP was not intended to be and must …
Selling Tesla Accessories Bona Fide and Nominative Fair Use – vol. 4.47
Selling Tesla Accessories Bona Fide and Nominative Fair Use As clearly stated by the Panel, “the Policy was created to address obvious cases of cybersquatting”. It was not intended to address all trademark disputes involving domain names”, referencing the WIPO Overview 3.0 at 4.14.6 which states in part, “panels have tended to deny the case not on the UDRP merits …
Celebrating Excellence in the Domain Industry: The 2025 ICA Awards Nominees
The Internet Commerce Association is proud to announce the nominees for the 2025 Lonnie Borck Memorial Award and the newly introduced Trailblazer Award. These prestigious honors recognize the outstanding individuals and companies whose contributions have profoundly impacted the domain name industry. The Lonnie Borck Memorial Award celebrates individuals who have made exceptional contributions to fostering a sense of community within …
ICA Member Profile: Maria Cypher
Maria is Co-Founder & Creative Director of Catchword Branding and has personally created hundreds of brand names, including Asana, Upwork, Vudu, and VW Atlas. She’s also an avid domainer and oversees the Catchword Accelerator‘s inventory of 2000+ premium brandable domains. Profile Questions Name: Maria Cypher Company: Catchword Branding Favorite Domain: Any domain I’ve sold that makes it as a serious …
Exclusive Member Event: Navigating Domain Name Taxes with Ed Neff, CPA
This Friday, November 22nd at 1 PM EST, we’ll be hosting a Special Call with domain tax expert Ed Neff, CPA. Known for his expertise in helping domain investors navigate the intricate U.S. tax code, Ed will guide us through the unique challenges and opportunities of domain name taxation. Agenda Highlights: Determining Business Type for Tax Purposes – Is capital gain income possible for domain …
The Challenge of Properly Applying Telstra – vol. 4.46
The Challenge of Properly Applying Telstra The key element of the well-known Telstra standard: “it is not possible to conceive of any plausible actual or contemplated active use of the domain name by the Respondent that would not be illegitimate”. while appearing to be simple and intuitive is quite challenging to apply. It is an odd standard that deviates from the …
Complainants Must Establish Reputation as of Date of Domain Registration – vol. 4.45
Complainants Must Establish Reputation as of Date of Domain Registration We often see Complainants making the mistake of proving their reputation as of the time of filing the Complaint, but that is inadequate. Rather, the material date is the date of registration since that is the point in time that we must evaluate whether the Complainant’s reputation was the reason …
Atom and Hilco Digital Sponsor the Closing Reception at the 2025 ICA Annual Member Meeting!
We’re excited to share that Atom and Hilco Digital Assets will co-sponsor the Closing Reception at our Annual Member Meeting in Las Vegas! Join us at Bar Zazu on the evening of Tuesday, January 28th, 2025, as we wrap up an amazing few days of fun, insight, and connection. Bar Zazu is a familiar favorite, having hosted our opening reception last year, also sponsored by Atom and Hilco. We’re …