Content of rights of domain name possessor

Interneto domeno vardai – tai interneto adresų srities simboliniai pavadinimai, nustatantys interneto turinio teikėją, jo prekes, paslaugas ar informaciją elektroninėje (internetinėje) erdvėje. Domenų vardai plačiai naudojami verslo sektoriuje, kadangi atlieka ne tik adreso funkciją internete, bet ir funkcijas, būdingas socialiniams žymenims, dėl to domeno vardo savininko teisių apsauga labai aktuali šiai dienai problema. Lietuvoje domeno vardą, susietą su aukščiausiojo lygio domenu „.lt“ reglamentuoja vienintelis .lt domeno procedūrinis reglamentas. Todėl labai aktualu tinkamai identifikuoti domeno vardo sampratą, jo savininko teisių turinį. Tai yra reikalinga tam, kad būtų išvengta klaidinimų, ko pasėkoje kenčia vartotojai, įmonės bei jų reputacija. Šio darbo tikslas yra išsiaiškinti domeno savininko teisių apimtį ir atsakyti į klausimą, ar garantuojama domeno vardo savininko teisių apsauga, įregistravus domeno vardą. Darbe atlikta domeno vardo savininko teisių turinio analizė Lietuvos, Europos Sąjungos ir Amerikos lygmeniu parodė, kad domeno vardo savininko teisių turinys, pagal esamus teisės aktus ir nusistovėjusią teismų praktiką, negarantuoja apsaugos į domeno vardą. Taip yra todėl, kad registras netikrina domeno vardo naujumo, atitikimo ar panašumo su esamais, žinomais prekių ar paslaugų ženklais. Ši pareiga perkelta asmeniui, norinčiam įregistruoti domeno vardą. Norint apsaugoti domeno vardą, vienintelis būdas yra užregistruoti jį kaip prekės ženklą. Tuo tarpu tiek .lt domeno procedūriniame reglamente, tiek Europos Komisijos (EB) Reglamente Nr. 874/2004 bei ICANN “Vieningoje ginčų dėl domenų vardų sprendimo metodikoje“, principas „kas pirmas, tas laimi“ domeno vardo registracijoje nesukuria pirmumo teisės į žymenį. Teismų praktika parodė, kad registruojant domeno vardą ir jį naudojant, turi tai daryti sąžiningai ir turėti teisėtą interesą į registruojamą domeną. T.y. registruojamas domeno vardas neturi būti identiškas arba klaidinančiai panašus ne tik į kt. domeno vardą, bet ir prekių ženklus, įmonių pavadinimus. Domeno vardo registracija pavadinimu, kuris panašus į prekės ženklą, nepriklausomai nuo to, kad domeno vardas įregistruotas pirmiau, bus vienas iš nesąžiningumo įrodymu, jei bus įrodyta, kad buvo klaidinami vartotojai, siekiant finansinės naudos.Internet domain name is a label for an IP address, which guides to presenter‘s internet content, his/her goods, services or information in the internet. In simple words, domain name is the human-friendly address of a computer that is usually in a form that is easy to remember and identify. Domain name system (DNS) serves the central function of facilitating user‘s ability to navigate the internet. Domain names are widespread in business sector, because they serve not only as IP addresses in the internet, but also have such functions, which are typical to social signs. Domain names are usually memorable, and IP address is very difficult to remember. Domain names are usally chosen to have an association with the operator of server. Domain names can be identical or similar to registered trade marks or services. The fundamental nature of domain names gives rise to an inevitable conflict between holders of legal rights to particular names. The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) has recognized the problems raised by the clash between the domain name system and trade marks. As a consequence the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center is developing an on-line Internet based system for administering commercial disputes involving intellectual property. This is the main reason why protection of the domain name possesor‘s rights is so important nowadays. There is the only law act – .lt domain procedural reglament – in Lithuania. If there is a dispute between parties regarding a domain name, in Lithuania such dispute must be resolved in the court. Lithuanian law does not provide possibility to solve a dispute using arbitration procedure, which is easier, quicker and had a huge experience in such kind of disputes. So it is essential to identificate properly domain name concept, especially content of domain name possesor‘s rights. The target to achieve this goal is to avoid misrepresentation, which leads to harm of consumers, companies and their status. The aim of this work is to identify the scope of domain name possesor‘s rights and to answer the question, whether the protection of domain name possesor‘s rights is warranted after domain name has been registered. According to analysis made in Lithuanian, European Union and American levels, it can be alleged that the content of domain name possesors rights under prevailing laws and case practices do not guarranty the protection of domain name possersor‘s rights. The reason is that the registrator does not check the novelty, identity or simillarity of domain names to trade marks names. Under the law this duty is dedicated to the individual (person), who desires to register a domain name. The only way to protect domain name is to register it as a trade mark. While under .lt domain procedural reglament and European Commission (EC) Reglament No. 874/2004, and also ICANN’s Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy, the rule „first come, first served“ does not create prerogative right to domain name for a sign. If there is dispute between two persons, who at the same time request to register the identical domain name, then the rule „first come, first served“ is in force. But in case when a dispute arrises between persons that registered domain name identical or confusigly similar to another person‘s trade mark, the prerogative is given to honest, intent and legal interest of domain name‘s registration and use. Case law in Lithuania state that applicant can reach the cancelation of domain names registration and compensation of litigation costs. Under Lithuanian law applicant can ask the court to transfer domain name, but case practise shows that the court rejects to transfer the domain name to a possesor, who has legal interest to this domain. The court obligate to cancel the registration of such domain name. It means that such domain name is free to register to anybody, who is honest and has legal interest to this domain name. It should be noticed that in Lithuania domain name does not become a property of a person or enterprise unless it is registered as a trade mark. Only then a person or enterprise is qualified for the administration of a domain name for a certain appointed period of time. Differently than in other countries, in Lithuania a domain name must be unregistered if Lithuania Court recognizes that the registration of domain name has violated the interest of some third party. In this case a domain name becomes available for anyone who would like to register it. According to the made analysis in Lithuanian and international levels, the reglamentation for domain name registration procedure should be more stringent and also giving more functions to registrator, such as control function, duty to check domain name‘s identity and similarity to trade marks, responsibility for bad actions, which violate interest of some third party. Restricted procedure would allow avoiding disputes and would protect domain name possessor’s rights.Vytauto Didžiojo universiteta