CADNA Hosts Brand Abuse and Internet Governance Forum

Yesterday PRNewswire provided commentary on the Coalition Against Domain Name Abuse’s (CADNA) Online Brand Abuse and Internet Governance Forum. The Forum, hosted by Wells Fargo and which took place on June 2nd in San Francisco, presented an opportunity for parties involved to discuss various aspects of the World Wide Web and the impact it has (and will have) on the promotion and protection of brand names and trademarks online. Among the attendees were experts in digital marketing, trademark law, and cybersecurity.

The Forum began with the first panel’s discussion focused on strategies to combat cybersquatting and the role that U.S. legislation will play in deterring cybersquatting in the future.

The general consensus was vocalized by Josh Bourne, CADNA President, who expressed the general opinion that the current laws in place (in particular the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act ACPA)) do not serve as a sufficient deterrent against cybersquatting. Bourne reiterated his concern, "we need more aggressive laws that will significantly discourage bad actors from exploiting brands' good names in this way."

The second panel discussion focused more specifically with the evolution of cybercrime since the advent of the World Wide Web and with ideas on how to combat new forms that cybercrime may take. The very real problems posed by cybercrime pose significant problems to brand owners whose products are being imitated or infringed upon. Indeed, as noted on PRNewswire;

“Panelist and FBI Supervisory Special Agent Charles Pavelites of the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) informed attendees that many victims who file complaints with the IC3 express anger toward the brand fraudulently represented, even though the brand itself was not actually responsible for the crime.”

Due to this mistrust that consumer victims of cybercrime feel towards the brands that were fraudulently represented; brand owners have a very real stake in fighting cybercrime to protect their consumer relations.

Before the Forum came to a close, panelists partook in a thorough discussion of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and its initiative to significantly expand the number of generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs). PRNewswire reports that a general consensus was reached that;

“The entire initiative is progressing much too quickly and because of ICANN's organizational flaws, government intervention with international participation will be needed to reach a comprehensive solution acceptable to all Internet users.” Bourne elaborated that, “ICANN is moving very fast without taking the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of businesses' brands, consumers, and even national security… Having tried to reason with ICANN, we realize that outside intervention is necessary and government support is needed sooner rather than later."

For more information on ICANN, CADNA and Cybersquatting;

Will Companies Be Hurt by New Trademark Infringement and Cybersquatting Opportunities When ICANN Launches New Generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs),

New CADNA Study Says ICANN'S New gTLD Launch Will Cost Businesses Over $746 Million,

Understand Your Trademark Rights George Bush! Avoid Overpaying $35,000 to Get Your Domain Back From A Cybersquatter,