Katja Grabienski Comments in Support of RPM in the new gTLDs"

["Katja Grabienski" <grabienski@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear Sirs
I would like to take this opportunity to express my concerns that the expansion 
of the domain name system through the new gTLD launch will provoke trade mark 
infringement and therefore consumer confusion and harm on a massive scale 
unless adequate rights protection mechanisms are put in place. Whilst I does 
not support the new gTLD programme unreservedly, it does believe that measures 
such as the IP Clearinghouse which will reduce the cost of validating trade 
marks significantly during Sunrise programmes and the URS (Uniform Rapid 
Suspension System) which will enable rights owners to tackle the most blatant 
incidents of infringement, are very valuable. 
I would also like to encourage ICANN to adopt a more efficient and up-to-date 
regulation on bad faith as regards cybersquatting. ICANN should introduce the 
same provisions adopted by the EU in relation to eu. domain names in which the 
double requirements (i.e. lack of legitimate interest + bad faith) should give 
way to the double "or" requirement: i.e. it would be sufficient for the 
complainant to prove bad faith or to give a principle of proof of lack of 
legitimate interest; and if the respondent does not provide any evidence on its 
legitimate interest, this would be sufficient for the Complainant to win the 
case. 
Furthermore, bad faith should be proven at the beginning, when the 
cybersquatter registered the domain name, or later, when the complaint is 
filed. It should not be necessary for bad faith to be present and proven both 
at the beginning and afterwards.
Bad faith is the central issue of the proceedings, and if we leave the 
situation as it is, it will be more and more difficult for the trademark owners 
to prevail because the cybersquatters will have adjusted their own behaviour in 
order to comply with the rules. 
For example, licensees or distributors that still use and own a domain name 
comprising their principle's trademark after the licence or distribution 
agreement has lapsed should be considered in bad faith.
Regards
Katja Grabienski
Rechtsanwältin / Junior Partnerin 
Fachanwältin für gewerblichen Rechtsschutz 
(Attorney-at-Law / Junior Partner) 
(Certified Specialist in Intellectual Property Law) 

JONAS Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH
Hohenstaufenring 62
50674 Köln / Cologne, Germany
Tel. +49 (0)221 27758-0
Dir. +49 (0)221 27758-218
Fax +49 (0)221 27758-1
grabienski@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.jonas-lawyers.com

Amtsgericht Köln, HRB 59300
Geschäftsführer: Kay Uwe Jonas, Dr. Martin Viefhues, Karl Hamacher, Dr. Nils 
Weber

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