New .cn Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy Makes Recovery More Difficult

By Gabriela.kennedy and Jennifer Lam

On 14 February 2006, China Internet Network Information Centre ("CNNIC") published a new dispute resolution policy ("2006 Policy") for .cn domain names, which will come into force on 17 March 2006. The purpose of the amendments to the current .cn dispute resolution policy is to balance the benefits of trade mark owners with those of domain name registrants.

The 2006 Policy introduces three major amendments to the existing .cn dispute resolution policy: a time bar for domain name disputes; a narrowing of the scope of the bad faith requirement; and further clarification on the requirements for a domain name registrant to prove it has legitimate interests in the disputed domain name.