MINNEAPOLIS, February 27, 2008— www.domain-disputes.com —The National Arbitration Forum, an international provider of alternative dispute resolution services, administered a total of 1,805 domain name disputes in 2007, up from 1,658 disputes in 2006. The National Arbitration Forum has been approved as a domain name dispute resolution program provider by the Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) since 1999.
UDRP domain names with common extensions like .com, .net, and .org accounted for 1,775 filings.
usDRP domain names with the .us extension accounted for 30 filings.
Of the 1,805 filings, Panelists heard 1,391 cases; parties worked together to settle many of the rest.
There were 9,916 total domain name complaints filed since 1999.
Of those filings, Panelists heard 8,006 cases; the parties settled many of the rest.
“Our dispute resolution program is available to deal quickly with the core problem: a domain name registered and being abused by a party who cannot claim legitimate rights to it,” said Internet Legal Counsel Kristine Dorrain. “The National Arbitration Forum offers a fair and inexpensive resolution process with none of the jurisdictional hassles found in court.”
Third Annual Competition Promotes Arbitration among Aspiring Attorneys
CHICAGO and MINNEAPOLIS, February 11, 2008—Texas Tech University School of Law received top honors in the recent 2007-2008 National Arbitration Competition, co-sponsored by the American Bar Association Law Student Division and the National Arbitration Forum. Texas Tech School of Law prevailed over 16 teams in the National Finals at Stetson University in January.
The competition, one of four each year sponsored by the Law Student Division, provides law students with the opportunity to participate in a mock legal dispute with professional arbitrators and lawyers judging the hearings. Coached by law professors, the students prepare and present their cases from start to finish, including opening statements, witness examinations, exhibit introductions, evidentiary presentations and summations.
“Our goal is to promote excellence in arbitration,” said Roger Haydock, managing director for the National Arbitration Forum and chair of the Arbitration Competition Subcommittee of the ABA Law Student Division’s Competitions Committee. “The nation’s only arbitration competition continues to be a success. More law students each year are given the opportunity to learn how to be highly effective arbitration advocates.”
Complete results for the 2007-2008 National Arbitration Competition:
Honorable Harold Kalina Receives Civil Justice Award
MINNEAPOLIS, December 5, 2007—The National Arbitration Forum (FORUM) presented the organization’s inaugural “Civil Justice Award” to Honorable Harold Kalina, for whom the award will be named, on December 1, 2007.
Upon presenting the award, Roger Haydock, Managing Director of the National Arbitration Forum stated “Judge Kalina has ennobled and improved dispute resolution and civil justice during his distinguished career as a District Court Judge, a Minnesota State Senator, practicing attorney, mediator, arbitrator, and all-around dispute resolution professional.”
Honorable Harold Kalina, a graduate of the University of Minnesota law school, began his career at Scholle, Schweiger & Kalina in Minneapolis where he practiced law from 1954 to 1972 and was a partner. He served as a Minnesota State Senator for four terms from 1955 to 1971 and as an Assistant Minority Leader for the Senate from 1971 to 1972.
In 1972 he began his term as Judge of the Hennepin County District Court, Fourth Judicial District, Minnesota. In 1981 Kalina became Chief Judge of the Fourth Judicial District. He was Partner at Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly in Minneapolis from 1983 to 1990. He then returned to the bench as a Fourth Judicial District Court Judge from 1990 to 1995.
Dispute resolution program boasts a legal process that is quick, inexpensive, neutral and expert.
Minneapolis (PRWEB) September 13, 2007 — www.domains.adrforum.com — The National Arbitration Forum recently issued decisions on the rights to Univision.tv, Webkinzz.com, Webkniz.com, Weblinz.com and ChocolateKiss.com.
“Domain names have irreplaceable value for trademark holders. Abusive practices like cybersquatting and typosquatting can lead to disputes,” said Kristine Dorrain, Internet Legal Counsel. “The National Arbitration Forum domain name dispute resolution program boasts a legal process that is quick, inexpensive, neutral and expert.”
The following three decisions were made in accordance with the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) by independent and neutral arbitrators on the National Arbitration Forum’s panel.
Univision.tv
On June 7, 2007, Univision Communications Inc., the premier Spanish-language media company in the United States, submitted a complaint electronically with the National Arbitration Forum asserting legal rights to the domain name Univision.tv. The Complainant requested the dispute be decided by a three-member panel.
Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB) May 23, 2007 — http://www.domain-disputes.com — The National Arbitration Forum recently issued decisions on three separate domain name disputes filed by Disney, Jimmy Buffett and Angels Baseball.
“We continue to see a trend towards filing complaints under the UDRP, rather than lawsuits, for these Internet conflicts,” said Kristine Dorrain, Internet Legal Counsel of the National Arbitration Forum. “We’re on the way to surpassing last year’s record-breaking domain name filings.” In 2006, the National Arbitration Forum saw its largest filing year ever, marking a 21% increase over 2005.
The following three decisions were made in accordance with the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) by independent and neutral arbitrators on the National Arbitration Forum’s panel.
DisneyComics.com
One of the world’s largest entertainment corporations, Disney Enterprises, Inc., submitted a complaint electronically on February 15, 2007. The National Arbitration Forum panel found that the domain name DisneyComics.com was being cybersquatted by Dayanand Kamble of India who used the website to offer advertising links and products, some related to Disney’s trademarks.
A National Arbitration Forum arbitrator awards Stevie Wonder the rights to the Internet domain name stevie-wonder.com.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., (PRWEB) January 25, 2006 — Grammy award-winning musician and entertainer Stevland Morris (known by the stage name Stevie Wonder) successfully defended his trademark in arbitration following the discovery that stevie-wonder.com was being used by another party.
Stevland Morris a/k/a Stevie Wonder filed a complaint electronically with the National Arbitration Forum asserting legal rights to the domain name stevie-wonder.com. The arbitrator found that the domain name was registered by the Respondent, Lad, on April 27, 2000, and resolved to a web page featuring information about the famed musician as well as links to various competing and non-competing commercial websites.
Ruling in Stevie Wonder’s favor, the National Arbitration Forum arbitrator concluded that Wonder had established common law rights in the STEVIE WONDER trademark based on Wonder’s 40+ years of celebrated composing, recording and performing. The arbitrator ruled that stevie-wonder.com was “confusingly similar” to the STEVIE WONDER trademark and that the Respondent registered and used the domain name in bad faith by incorporating the trademark without Wonder’s permission or consent. The arbitrator further ruled that the Respondent, who did not submit a response in the case, lacked legitimate rights to, or interest in, the disputed domain name, and ordered that it be transferred to Wonder.
Purpose of new alliance is to reduce the cost and time delays of international business litigation.
Minneapolis (PRWeb) January 11, 2007 — FORUM Dispute Management, an affiliate of the prominent alternative dispute resolution provider, National Arbitration Forum, and Lawyers Associated Worldwide (LAW), an international association of independent law firms have signed a memorandum of understanding to work together on an international level.
“The FORUM and the LAW group have the same burgeoning interest in providing fair and affordable civil justice throughout the world; our new relationship will help achieve that vital goal,” said Roger Haydock, National Arbitration Forum’s Director of Education. “In our relationship with LAW, we will work to create opportunities for ways to resolve international legal problems that maintain business relationships, by resolving disputes fairly and quickly.”
The two organizations came together as a result of the efforts of the National Arbitration Forum’s Haydock and Chief Operating Officer Michael Kelly and three LAW members: Jason Lim Chen Thor, a partner in the Singapore-based firm of Michael Khoo and Partners; Seymour Mansfield, a partner at Mansfield, Tanick & Cohen PA, in Minneapolis, Minnesota; and LAW chairman, Christopher McCracken, a partner at Ulmer & Berne LLP, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Competition draws participants from 23 national law schools.
Minneapolis, MN (PRWeb) November 28, 2006 — www.adrforum.com — Stetson University College of Law, represented by Megan Lattz, Shannon McMahon, Sarah Olsen and Stuart Weissman, defeated eleven other law school teams in the second annual Arbitration Competition National Finals held in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 17-18. The competition was co-sponsored by the National Arbitration Forum and the ABA Law Student Division.
Each team argued in a mock arbitration that was judged by attorneys, National Arbitration Forum arbitrators and other nationally recognized arbitrators. During the mock arbitration hearings, four-member teams acted as lawyers and witnesses in an insurance coverage dispute involving a disaster. Students prepared and presented an arbitration case, including opening statements, witness examinations, exhibit introductions, evidentiary presentations and summations.
“The students really learn the nuances of case development, which is a difficult and crucial skill to master,” said professors Kelly Feeley and Roberta Flowers of Stetson University College of Law, coaches of the 2006 National Champion team. “Honing these skills in law school makes these students more attractive to employers who want new associates prepared for all areas of the practice. We are so pleased that this competition has been added to the ABA Law Student Division’s roster of competitions. Participation and success in the arbitration competition benefits students both during and after law school.”
MINNEAPOLIS, MN (PRWeb) November 21, 2006 — http://www.domain-disputes.com - The National Arbitration Forum recently issued decisions on three separate domain name disputes filed by Vin Diesel, Louis Vuitton and the New York Yankees during the month of September; each was settled within two months.
“The National Arbitration Forum has administered over 7,200 domain dispute cases to date,” said Curtis Brown, vice president of the National Arbitration Forum. “Arbitration has become the premier alternative to lengthy and expensive trademark lawsuits.”
All decisions were reached in accordance with the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
www.VinDiesel.com
On September 25, 2006, Vin Diesel the lead actor in The Fast and the Furious and other Hollywood movies filed a complaint electronically with the National Arbitration Forum asserting legal rights to the domain name www.vindiesel.com. The arbitrator found that the domain name was being used by the Respondent, L.M. Nordell of Sweden to display links to various competing and non-competing commercial websites that relate to the famed actor.
ADR Law & Policy Update provides legal community with a weekly round-up of alternative dispute resolution case law, legislative and regulatory actions.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN (PRWEB) August 15, 2006 — Today, the National Arbitration Forum officially launched a new educational e-newsletter called the ADR Law & Policy Update. Legal professionals, judges and others interested can access the latest in federal and state cases and legislative and regulatory happenings pertaining to alternative dispute resolution (ADR) all in one newsletter. This newsletter is a first-of-its-kind and provides legal professionals an easy way to stay up-to-date on legal developments concerning ADR.
“As the trend toward ADR continues to grow, there is an abundance of ADR case law, legislation and regulation,” said Curtis Brown, vice president of the National Arbitration Forum. “In fact, there is so much that it becomes difficult to track and categorize. So, we plan to bring it all together for people in a format that is easy to digest. We are proud to offer this information to the legal community and all others who are interested and hope they find it useful.”
