Domain Name Issues
Domain name issues are one of the most problematic issues web-hosting providers have to work with. Understanding the rules of the road are very important (if not vital) to a successful hosting business. In years past, handling domain name issues was very difficult. Today, there are several policies (and organizations) that are in place to make domain name issues easier to handle. As a hosting provider, domain disputes don’t represent significant problems for the company. But they do represent problems for the customer and those problems (by proxy) become the hosting company’s
The world Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) posted that the number of official domain name disputes (using the UDRP) had risen 6.6% in 2004. The total number of cases climbed to 1,179 up from 1,100 in 2003. 5 Over time it is believed that this number will continue to climb. As a hosting provider, it’s important to understand the process one needs to take to resolve a domain issue. Information on the UDRP and ACPA policies are linked to the right. Keep in mind that your customer should obtain his or her own legal help and that your advice doesn’t replace the legal advice a practicing attorney would provide. However, it is nice to point your customer in the right direction.