Asian Domain name dispute under the new URS system

A domain name (DN) dispute between Novartis and an Indonesian individual called Eko Prayento has been resolved by the Asian Domain Name Dispute Resolution Centre (ADNDRC). This organization hears domain name disputes under the new fast track Uniform Rapid Suspension (URS) domain name dispute resolution system adopted by the internet management agency the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

The DN was www.novartis-venturefund.com. Novartis filed a complaint at ADNDRC based on its trademark NOVARTIS. It previously owned the www.novartis-venture fund.com DN but had failed to renew it. So Eko Prayento subsequently registered it. The arbitrator quite obviously found the mark was similar and therefore Prayento had the burden to prove he had legitimate rights in the name. He did not file any defense to the complaint so Novartis won.

The new URS system is fast and efficient and it is good to see it being used in Asia.  

Domain name ownership in SE Asia

ICANN ownership rules allow anyone to apply for domain names. But in July the new Chairman of Domain Name Management Indonesia (Pandi) Mr Andi Budimansyah confirmed that the .id domain name may not be sold to non Indonesian entities, per current practice. He cited reasons of national identity, and said that because a vast range of new ICANN domain names would be available from 2012 that this rule caused no harm to anyone.

Elsewhere in SE Asia there seems to be less concern. DotPH, the official domain name registry of the Philippines have no restrictions on foreign ownership so foreign entities can register .ph domain names.  In Thailand it is the same. In Vietnam foreign organisations and individuals can register and use second level domain names under code .vn.