[registrars] BOGUS ".INFO" DOMAIN NAMES DRAW INTERNET USERS' IRE

[Rick H Wesson <wessorh@ar.com>]

from EDUPage...

BOGUS ".INFO" DOMAIN NAMES DRAW INTERNET USERS' IRE
Internet users are accusing Afilias of awarding domain name
addresses, such as sports.info, science.info, and newyork.info,
during the .info trademark claim period to companies that lack
the relevant trademark rights. Although some companies have used
the period to register trademark-associated domain names, others
have not. For example Coca-Cola has registered coke.info and
cocacola.info, but DuPont has claimed science.info despite lacking
ownership of the word. An obscure London company, World Information
Services, has staked IP claims at sports.info, business.info,
money.info, and others. Afilias has responded by saying that it
will decide whether to change or scrap the process by the week
ending Aug. 12. Afilias consultant Michael Palage said that
Afilias is not equipped to screen or verify trademark claims and
plans only to review applications for fraud or technical error.
(Reuters, 7 August 2001)