<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(62, 62, 64); "><h2 style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; margin-top: 6px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 62, 92); ">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(62, 62, 64); font-weight: normal; "><a href="http://www.internationallawoffice.com/newsletters/detail.aspx?g=0222986e-de99-4d7b-9128-46a705c8931a">http://www.internationallawoffice.com/newsletters/detail.aspx?g=0222986e-de99-4d7b-9128-46a705c8931a</a></span></h2>
<h2 style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; margin-top: 6px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 62, 92); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(62, 62, 64); font-weight: normal; "><a href="http://www.internationallawoffice.com/newsletters/detail.aspx?g=0222986e-de99-4d7b-9128-46a705c8931a"></a></span>Launch of IDNs highlights gaps in Arabic-language trademark protection</h2>
<p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(62, 62, 64); ">
April 12 2010</p><div class="article"><p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(62, 62, 64); ">
<strong><a href="http://www.internationallawoffice.com/newsletters/detail.aspx?g=0222986e-de99-4d7b-9128-46a705c8931a#intro" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(90, 145, 168); outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; ">Introduction</a><br>
</strong><strong><a href="http://www.internationallawoffice.com/newsletters/detail.aspx?g=0222986e-de99-4d7b-9128-46a705c8931a#domain" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(90, 145, 168); outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; ">Application of domain name dispute policies</a><br>
<a href="http://www.internationallawoffice.com/newsletters/detail.aspx?g=0222986e-de99-4d7b-9128-46a705c8931a#trademark" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(90, 145, 168); outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; ">Application of trademark laws</a><br>
<a href="http://www.internationallawoffice.com/newsletters/detail.aspx?g=0222986e-de99-4d7b-9128-46a705c8931a#action" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(90, 145, 168); outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; ">Action for brand owners</a></strong></p>
<p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(62, 62, 64); ">
<strong><br><a name="intro" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(90, 145, 168); outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "></a>Introduction</strong></p><p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(62, 62, 64); ">
As internationalized (non-Latin script) domain names (IDNs) are being adopted across the Arabic-speaking world, many brand owners are having to review the adequacy of their Arabic-language trademark protection.</p><p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(62, 62, 64); ">
IDNs are proving very popular with Arabic-speaking countries. As of the end of March 2010, six of the 14 country-level IDNs approved by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) under its fast-track application process were in the Arabic language. Arabic-language domain names are now set to be adopted within the next few months in Egypt, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates.</p>
<p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(62, 62, 64); ">
The creation of Arabic-language IDNs will almost certainly attract cybersquatters and other 'entrepreneurs' trying to make a quick buck out of the system. While there may be a well-trodden path to follow in seeking to recover English and other Latin-script domain names from cybersquatters, the position is potentially much less straightforward when it comes to Arabic-language IDNs.</p>
<p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(62, 62, 64); ">
<strong><a name="domain" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(90, 145, 168); outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "></a>Application of domain name dispute policies</strong></p><p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(62, 62, 64); ">
With some country-level domain name registrars in the Middle East adopting ICANN's Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy, or a modified version of this policy, trademark owners are often able to recover domain names registered by cybersquatters if:</p>
<ul style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 15px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(62, 62, 64); list-style-image: url(http://www.internationallawoffice.com/images/Bullet.gif); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-position: outside; ">
<div>the domain is identical or confusingly similar to the trademark in which the complainant can establish rights;</div></li><li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(62, 62, 64); list-style-image: url(http://www.internationallawoffice.com/images/Bullet.gif); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-position: outside; ">
<div>the domain name holder has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the domain name; or</div></li><li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(62, 62, 64); list-style-image: url(http://www.internationallawoffice.com/images/Bullet.gif); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-position: outside; ">
<div>the domain name has been registered and is being used in bad faith.</div></li></ul><p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(62, 62, 64); ">
The introduction of Arabic-language IDNs puts the focus on the first of these criteria - will an English-language trademark registration provide sufficient rights to protect against the registration of a corresponding Arabic-language IDN? The specific question to be asked is whether an English-language trademark registration would be confusingly similar to the Arabic-language equivalent.</p>
<p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(62, 62, 64); ">
The answer to this question is not necessarily as positive as brand owners might like to hear. In many cases the Arabic-language equivalent of an English trademark is a translation of the meaning of the mark. While the two marks have the same meaning, they may be phonetically and visually very different.</p>
<p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(62, 62, 64); ">
Alternatively, the Arabic-language version could be a phonetic transliteration of the English mark. In this case the Arabic version will sound very similar to the English mark, but it will be visually different and the meaning will not be the same.</p>
<p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(62, 62, 64); ">
In all cases the trademark owner will have to demonstrate that the Arabic and English versions are sufficiently similar to be confusing. In some instances this may be relatively straightforward; in others, where the two versions are clearly dissimilar, the task could be impossible.</p>
<p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(62, 62, 64); ">
<strong><a name="trademark" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(90, 145, 168); outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "></a>Application of trademark laws</strong></p><p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(62, 62, 64); ">
Alternatively, and often much more costly, trademark owners may seek to enforce their rights by way of a trademark infringement action. However, in many Arabic countries the same problems will arise in establishing that an English-language trademark registration provides sufficient rights to restrain the unauthorized use of an Arabic-language translation or transliteration of that mark.</p>
<p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(62, 62, 64); ">
In 2007 a draft Trademark Law was published which was intended to apply across the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. This draft law sought to extend the scope of protection granted to a registered trademark to translations of the mark. However, the draft law has yet to come into force and, as a result, the position remains unclear in many countries across the Middle East.</p>
<p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(62, 62, 64); ">
<strong><a name="action" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(90, 145, 168); outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "></a>Action for brand owners</strong></p><p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(62, 62, 64); ">
It remains to be seen whether domain name registrars who accept Arabic IDNs will adapt their dispute resolution policies to take account of the issues outlined in this update. However, as it stands, brand owners without Arabic-language trademark protection may face difficulties if they ever need to take action in respect of an IDN which incorporates an Arabic version of their non-Arabic trademark.</p>
<p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(62, 62, 64); ">
Therefore, it is important that brand owners with an interest or potential interest in the Arabic-speaking world review the adequacy of their Arabic-language trademark protection. It is also important to monitor the introduction of Arabic IDNs, so that consideration can be given to registration of the appropriate Arabic-language domain names as they become available.</p>
<p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(62, 62, 64); ">
<em>For further information on this topic please contact <a href="http://www.internationallawoffice.com/Directory/Biography.aspx?g=91addc9e-2678-48ea-b452-6c34dc3a479e" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(90, 145, 168); outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; ">Rob Deans</a> </em><em>or <a href="http://www.internationallawoffice.com/directory/biography.aspx?r=2574776" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(90, 145, 168); outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; ">Harriet Balloch</a> </em><em>at Clyde & Co by telephone (+971 4 331 1102), fax (+971 4 331 9920) or email (<a href="mailto:rob.deans@clydeco.ae?subject=Article%20on%20ILO" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(90, 145, 168); outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; ">rob.deans@clydeco.ae</a> </em><em>or <a href="mailto:harriet.balloch@clydeco.ae?subject=Article%20on%20ILO" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(90, 145, 168); outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; ">harriet.balloch@clydeco.ae</a></em><em>).</em></p>
</div><p class="noprint" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(62, 62, 64); ">
<strong><a href="http://www.internationallawoffice.com/newsletters/Comment.aspx?g=0222986e-de99-4d7b-9128-46a705c8931a" id="ctl00_Col12Content_A7" class="text" title="Send Comment" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(90, 145, 168); outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; ">Comment or question for author</a></strong></p>
<p id="ctl00_Col12Content_P1" class="noprint" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(62, 62, 64); ">
<em>ILO provides online commentaries as specialist Legal Newsletters. Written in collaboration with over 500 of the world's leading experts and covering more than 100 jurisdictions, it delivers individually requested information via email to an influential global audience of law firm partners and international corporate counsel. Please <a href="http://www.internationallawoffice.com/Account/Register.aspx?s=nlpreview" id="ctl00_Col12Content_A8" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(90, 145, 168); outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; ">click here</a> to register for the service.</em></p>
<p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(62, 62, 64); ">
The materials contained on this website are for general information purposes only and are subject to the <a class="normal" href="http://www.internationallawoffice.com/Information/Disclaimer.aspx" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(90, 145, 168); outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; ">disclaimer</a>.</p>
</span>