A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK RELATING TO CYBERSQUATTING IN INDIA

Abstract

The arrival of the internet has brought an explosion in the process of registration of domain names that has resulted in the issue of cybersquatting for financial gain. As per the WIPO data, the cases related to domain name disputes have dramatically increased. For the first time in 1999, the ICANN adopted a uniform policy framework (UDRP) to address the problem of cybersquatting for speedy disposal of domain name disputes. At the global level, only the United States of America has particular legislation that makes cybersquatting a crime. In the Indian context, there is no particular legislation to tackle cybersquatting matters, the courts apply the various approaches along with the common law principle of the trademark to resolve the disputes. The article wishes to critically analyze the international and national legal and policy frameworks related to cybersquatting