Nominet have launched a new search function for expert decisions from the Dispute Resolution Service. For the first time, it is now possible to search through the text of published decisions using a free-text search or more specific search criteria.
The Dispute Resolution Service (DRS) offers an efficient and transparent method of resolving disputes in the .uk Top Level Domain. Through the DRS they seek to settle .uk domain name disputes through mediation, and where this is not possible, through an independent expert decision.
All expert decisions are published on their web site. Nominet have now launched a decisions search function. The search function allows users to search through the full wording of decisions for key phrases or words. Specific searches can also be made using the domain name, date, result, expert, complainant or respondent.
Nominet are also in the process of tagging all decisions in a number of categories. A case will be tagged based on which part of the dispute policy it relates to, for example, typosquatting, passing off or trademark infringement. We will also tag cases based on the field of activity or industry to which the domain name relates. The tag search function is an ongoing project and it will take us some time to complete the tagging process for all historic decisions.
DRS decisions will still be published using our RSS feed. You can subscribe to the DRS RSS feed to ensure that you are alerted to new decisions as soon as they are published.
What this means for Trademark and brand owners…
Having consulted on dozens of Dispute Resolution cases in the past few years knowing what to write and how to approach the situation is the key. Now via the Nominet DRS search function knowing what to write can be extensively researched from previous case history. They even talk about giving search functions by the type of abusive registration whether its Typo’s or squatting. The big power brands such as Expedia and GoCompare have put a lot of effort into their domain reacquisition process so why not make use of their internal experts writings for your own personal issues. I’ve always thought that the .co.uk process for taking back a domain for being an abusive registration was the easiest of any tld…now with an extensive library of case history to go on it got even easier and less daunting for anybody to take action and be confident in their arguments.
What this means for domainers
Not all domainers abusively register domains. However if you have domains that are closely aligned with any trademark or brand you might find an email from Nominet arriving in your mailbox in the not too distant future.
If you have a case which you want looked at email me at contact@leewoodman.co.uk. Having looked through several of the DRS case profiles there are some which I’d feel confident of winning should it go to appeal.
