First Case For The URS System: A Successful Prospect For Trademark Holders

The first case implementing the Uniform Rapid Suspension system, created at the same time as the new gTLDs, has just been rendered. IBM is the lucky winner after having filed a complaint against a third party who tried to reserve ibm.guru and ibm.ventures, on 31 January 2014, and having had the domain names redirected to IBM's official website (www.ibm.com).

The benefits of the URS system are both time- and cost-effective compared with the existing UDRP; the main difference is that the UDRP entitles trademark holders to have the disputed domain name directly transferred, whereas the URS system only allows for suspension of the domain name. In terms of rapidity, the system has proved its efficiency, since the National Arbitration Forum rendered its decision in only seven days – against the average two-month period under the existing UDRP! IBM filed its complaint on 5 February 2014 and the decision was handed down on 12 February 2014, with recognition of the third