WIPO Anti-Cybersquatting Service: 50,000 Cases Handled

The WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center has already registered 50,000 cybersquatting cases; a major milestone capping two decades of pro-consumer activity ensuring Internet users can easily find genuine sites for the brands they love and trust.

The Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) is at the heart of WIPO’s anti-cybersquatting service. It was created in 1999 by WIPO, and is used by brand owners around the world to combat abuse of their trademarks in domain names.

This dispute resolution mechanism can be applied to any domain names registered in international domains. Many operators of national domains have also been adopting this WIPO service.

Now, 20 years later, as of November 20, 2020, WIPO had administered 50,000 UDRP-based proceedings covering almost 91,000 domain names, and involving parties from over 180 countries. 

Many domain name registration authorities have been reporting an increase in the number of domain names registered. These may be used for news/information sites, or to provide new business offerings, but – much like social media platforms – are also being used to spread misinformation and to engage in illegal and fraudulent activities. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has fueled cybersquatting cases filed with WIPO’s Arbitration and Mediation Center, adding to the record WIPO filing seen this year. From January through October 2020, the WIPO Center handled 3,405 cases, or an 11% increase over the same period during 2019.

Based on the WIPO materials.