Dispute resolution system is introduced to combat cybersquatting

The Korean Ministry of Information and Communication has established the Domain Name Dispute Resolution Committee in order to deal with the increasing number of registrations for country-code top-level domains names and the accompanying rise in cybersquatting. The committee is part of the Korea Internet Network Information Centre, the local agency responsible for domain name registrations. It will provide dispute resolution services involving '.kr' domain names and follow the procedures set out in the Regulations of Domain Name Dispute Resolution.

The committee's dispute resolution mechanism is expected to be more cost effective and time efficient than a formal legal action, with most disputes being settled within two months of the petition being filed.

In related news, the Ministry of Information and Communication has announced plans to introduce new domain name legislation. The Internet Address Asset Management Law will give the Internet Network Information Centre a larger mandate in managing the internet domain system and provide legislative backup for the Domain Name Dispute Resolution Committee's work in preventing cybersquatting.

Young June Yang, Kim & Chang, Seoul