• Developing countries "may challenge domain governance"
  The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is due to take place in Geneva on 10-12 December. While the published statement of the secretariat indicates that it "aims to bring together Heads of State, Executive Heads of the United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations, civil society entities, industry leaders and media representatives to foster a clear statement of political will and concrete plan of action to shape the future of the global information society",
  it appears that a more specific plan may be tabled by some countries to move Internet policy and governance (and particularly the control of the Internet domain name system) from the Californian non-profit corporation ICANN to the United Nations
  .... full story

• Rugby domain scrummage
  After England's success in the Rugby World Cup, internet speculators have been scrumming down to grab websites related to the team
  .... full story

11/27/2003

• Domain Name Disputes: Past, Present, Future
  What's in a name? Not much, according to Shakespeare. But today, the answer is "plenty" -- especially when you're talking about the intersection of domain names with trademarks
  .... full story

11/26/2003

• One man's meat is another man's domain name
  A recent WIPO UDRP case, Meat and Livestock Commission v David Pearce again illustrates the need for owners of registered trade marks to maintain a portfolio of blocking domain names, so as to prevent protesters from registering domains close to the principal name. On the other hand, depending on your point of view, the decision also stands as a victory for freedom of speech
  .... full story

11/20/2003

• Domain owner seeks to revolutionise Scottish legal system
  An aggrieved domain name owner has embarked on a campaign to revolutionise the Scottish legal system by ending the Law Society of Scotland’s “monopoly” on legal services
  .... full story

11/17/2003

• Domain names and trademark law
  A domain name is simply a name that represents the online address for the business. Under a federal statute called the Lanham Act, as well as individual state’s statutes or common law, a domain name can receive protection from use by others. Trademarks distinguish and provide protection for products while servicemarks distinguish and provide protection for services
  .... full story

• Mbeki wants domain names discussed
  The issue of administering Internet domain names should be discussed at next month's world information summit in Geneva, “otherwise the world continues to be governed by California law”, says president Thabo Mbeki
  .... full story

11/14/2003

• ICANN escapes injunction in domain name subscription fight
  Verisign, with the approval of ICANN, has planned to introduce a Wait Listing Service, a subscription-based service which will allow customers to subscribe to any registered domain name, even if it is currently owned by someone else. If the subscription expires during the term of the subscription, it will automatically be reregistered to the subscriber. Needless to say, other domain name registrars are upset by this, as it could lead to lost business as their customers sign up on Verisign's waiting list.
  .... full story

11/11/2003

• Corporate Trademarks and the Future of Domain Disputes
  About 80 percent of UDRP cases are decided in favor of the plaintiff; the actual numbers vary between resolution providers. How you view that figure depends on where you stand on the issue
  .... full story

• Standard For Securing Domain Name System Nears Finalization
  An international standards body is close to releasing a security mechanism for authenticating data moving across the Internet, making it more difficult for people dispensing spam, viruses and worms to remain anonymous
  .... full story

11/10/2003

• Net domain options to be reviewed
  At its annual meeting in Tunisia, Icann said it will launch a "broad strategic initiative" to consider how new GTLDs should take their place alongside existing ones like.com and.org
  .... full story

11/07/2003

• Microsoft ends silence on hotmail domain SNAFU
  Microsoft has at last commented on the blunder that resulted in its lapsed hotmail.co.uk domain being snapped up by a private individual.
  .... full story

11/06/2003

• ICANN to continue its reign over the Net
  The Bush administration said Wednesday that it has extended for three years an agreement with the organization that oversees the Internet's domain name hierarchy and address space.
  A key change to the agreement establishes seven deadlines for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to meet. The move is aimed at formalizing the process used to approve new top-level domain names, improving the accuracy of "whois" contact information, and forcing ICANN to become more open and accountable to the public
  .... full story

• Microsoft forgets to renew hotmail.co.uk domain
  Microsoft was busy covering up an almighty cock-up last night after forgetting to renew its hotmail.co.uk domain name.
  Despite being warned that the domain for its popular Web mail service was up for renewal, it seems Microsoft - or whoever had the task of managing its hotmail.co.uk domain - overlooked this vital piece of administration
  Luckily, the domain was snapped up on the same day - October 23. The new owner - a good hearted soul - then proceeded immediately to contact Microsoft, inform the giant of its slip and arrange to hand back the domain.
  However, Microsoft didn't want to know. Despite phone calls and emails - and being fobbed off by Microsoft drones - our man behind this public-spirited deed was completely blanked by the software empire
  .... full story

11/02/2003

• ICANN Sets Timetable For New Internet Domain Names
  The Internet's key oversight body approved a timetable Friday for expanding the online addressing system that could include domain names made up entirely of non-English characters
  .... full story

• Internet domain names expanding
  The Internet's key oversight body approved a timetable Friday for expanding the online addressing system that could include domain names made up entirely of non-English characters.
  .... full story

11/01/2003

• Ireland domain registry CEO resigns
  The chief executive of Ireland’s domain registry, IEDR, has resigned on the eve of a disciplinary hearing, bringing to a close 13 months of infighting at the company
  .... full story

• Internet domain names expanding
  The Internet's key oversight body approved a timetable Friday for expanding the online addressing system that could include domain names made up entirely of non-English characters.
  .... full story