Cybersquatting Remains on the Rise

The number of cybersquatting disputes filed with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2006 increased by 25 percent as compared to 2005. In a related development, the evolution of the domain name registration system is causing growing concern for trademark owners, in particular some of the effects of the use of computer software to automatically register expired domain names and their "parking" on pay-per-click portal sites, the option to register names free-of-charge for a five-day "tasting" period, the proliferation of new registrars, and the establishment of new generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs). The combined result of these developments is to create greater opportunities for the mass, often anonymous, registration of domain names without specific consideration of third-party intellectual property rights.

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