Region: Europe

The Complaints Board for Domain Names for the '.dk' domain has ruled in favour of two internet giants, eBay and Google. Applying a test similar to that found in ICANN's Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy, the board found evidence of bad faith and ordered that the names be transferred.

30 August 2002

The Danish international toy chain Top-Toy A/S BR has won a case in the Danish Commercial and Maritime Court against IT company Icom Data ApS regarding the domain name 'br.dk'. Although the domain name had never been used, BR was found to have an exclusive right to it, so its transfer was ordered.

25 July 2002

Nominet has published its decision in <i>Nokia Corporation v Saeed Mahmood, Naqi Jawad and Taqi Jawad</i>, the first decision under its Dispute Resolution Service relating to the new '.me.uk' domain for use by individuals. Oddly, the panellist ordered the domain to be transferred to the corporation.

24 July 2002

The UK High Court has found trademark infringement and passing off in a case where the name 'reed' was used on Reed Elsevier's website and in banner advertisements for the site. However, as the website and metatags associated with it had been changed by the time of the hearing, the complainant - the Reed employment agency - was not entitled to an injunction.

23 July 2002

The recent decision in <i>Pharmacia AB v Steve Wagstaff</i> indicates that where a domain name is identical to a complainant's trademark and is used for a website that criticizes the complainant, Nominet panellists are likely to order the transfer of the domain name.

19 July 2002

In a domain name dispute between parties with the same name, the Federal Supreme Court has held that the risk of confusing the parties could be avoided if one party adds his first name to his second-level domain and if both parties make a clarifying statement on their homepage.

18 July 2002

From November 2002 Nominet will broaden the ambit of information it discloses relating to '.uk' domain name registrations, as contained in its WHOIS database. Website operators are worried that these changes will put their privacy at risk, exposing them to identity theft.

17 July 2002

The European Court of Justice is soon expected to give its final judgment in the trademark infringement case of <i>Arsenal Football plc v Matthew Reed</i>. The football club's dispute with Reed, who sold unofficial souvenirs close to Arsenal's stadium, could also have implications for online traders in unauthorized sports merchandise.

15 July 2002

The English High Court has issued an unusual decision in the case of <i>Metalrax Group v Vanci</i>, granting an injunction to prevent the defendant from reacquiring a domain name he had lost, rather than waiting for the defendant to acquire the name and then ordering its transfer.

05 July 2002

The Presidium of the Russian Federation Supreme Arbitration Court has arrived at the important conclusion that the '.ru' domain registry may be held liable in cases involving unlawful registration. It also ruled that the courts may order the registry to cancel a registration and transfer the domain name to the plaintiff-trademark owner.

04 July 2002