Business Divorce Dressed Up as Cybersquatting Ends in RDNH Finding The Panel denied the Complaint concerning <chainbridgeestates.com> and issued a strong finding of Reverse Domain Name Hijacking (“RDNH”), emphasizing that the UDRP is designed to address clear cases of cybersquatting – not internal business disputes over control of a domain name associated with a jointly developed project. The Panel was unpersuaded …
A Note of Thanks to Jeremiah Johnston
After two decades of service, Jeremiah Johnston has announced that he’ll be stepping down from the ICA Board of Directors following his decision to step away from his role at Sedo at the end of the month. Jeremiah has been part of the ICA since the very beginning. Sedo was one of the founding members when the ICA was established …
Employee’s Unauthorized Domain Transfer is a “New Registration” – vol 6.19
Employee’s Unauthorized Domain Transfer is a “New Registration” This decision is notable for its treatment of an unauthorized intra-company domain transfer as a “new registration” capable of satisfying the conjunctive bad faith registration and use requirement under Policy ¶ 4(a)(iii). The Panel confronted a factual scenario that falls outside the classic cybersquatting paradigm: a domain name originally registered in good …
Welcoming Alan Shiflett to the ICA Board of Directors
The Internet Commerce Association is pleased to announce that Alan Shiflett, General Manager of Aftermarket & Specialty Brands at GoDaddy, is joining the ICA Board of Directors. Alan steps into the seat previously held by James Bladel. With over 16 years of experience, Alan has been instrumental in scaling the domain aftermarket and has long served as a dedicated advocate …
When Not Paying Your UDRP Fees Becomes Evidence of Bad Faith – vol. 6.18
When Not Paying Your UDRP Fees Becomes Evidence of Bad Faith What caught my attention most in this case was the Panel’s treatment of the Complainant’s failure to pay its share of the three-member Panel fees. After the Respondent elected a three-member Panel, the Complainant did not pay the required top-up. The Panel did not treat this as a neutral …
ICA NYC: Preliminary Agenda Now Live!
The wait is over! The working agenda for ICA NYC (May 19th–20th) is officially live. This is shaping up to be an exceptional gathering. It’s rare to get this caliber of investors, brokers, registrars, registry leaders, and policy experts in a single room. While the scheduled programming is top-tier, we know that much of the event’s value lies in the …
The Third Annual Levine Lecture: Honoring Global Expertise in Domain Law
You’re invited to join us for the Third Annual Levine Lecture, where Nick Gardner will present “26 Years of Deciding UDRP Cases: What Does a Panelist Actually Do, and Why? How Will AI Change This?” Nick’s career spans from one of the first landmark domain name cases in the English courts to presiding over hundreds of global disputes as a leading WIPO …
Panel’s Insistence on Evidence of Targeting: Price and Passive Holding Are No Substitute for Bad Faith – vol. 6.17
Panel’s Insistence on Evidence of Targeting: Price and Passive Holding Are No Substitute for Bad Faith The decision reflects a measured and structured application of settled UDRP principles to a fact pattern that often invites overreach. The Panelist, Mr. Nick J. Gardner, approaches the case with a disciplined focus on targeting, resisting the temptation to conflate high resale value or …
AMA: The Strategy of Naming with Catchword
Naming a brand is more than a creative exercise; it’s a mix of linguistics, legal strategy, and domain availability. On Thursday, May 13th, ICA is going behind the scenes with Catchword, one of the world’s leading naming agencies. We are welcoming back Laurel Sutton (Senior Strategist & Linguist) and Lea Chu (Executive Director) to break down the professional naming process …
Kick Off ICA NYC with a VIP Culinary Journey Through Midtown
There is no city quite like New York, and this May, the ICA is doing the “Big Apple” the right way. While our second day is packed with high-level industry discussions, we believe the best way to spark collaboration is over a world-class meal. Tuesday, May 19: A VIP Taste of Midtown We are kicking off ICA NYC on Tuesday, …