The Role of Arbitration in Protection the Owner of Famous Trademark from the Degital Environment Infringment

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study is to help consumers to move towards choosing specific goods and services that are better suited to their sense and needs by relying on the trademark of the commodity or service that has been taken as a website address for the promotion of goods or services.   Theoretical Framework: The infringements on the rights of owners of famous trademarks taking addresses to e-commerce sites for the purposes of advertising and promoting goods and services offered by such websites or even bargaining the owners of famous trademarks for large amounts of money for ceding the registered website address. Arbitration has emerged as an effective means for resolving intellectual property disputes, including the ownership disputes of famous trademarks, and providing civil protection for the rights of their owners. The effectiveness of arbitration is derived from many advantages achieved by this means for the litigation parties, in particular the owner of the well-known trademark compared to litigation as an original and traditional means of resolving trademarks’ disputes. Particularly, Arbitral awards in the mentioned cases have been rendered just and fair to the extent that they support the stability of global trade.   Design/Methodology/Approach: The nature of this study assumed the adoption of the descriptive analytical approach to the provisions of the arbitration and trademark legislation recently promulgated in the United Arab Emirates in comparison with provisions adopted by some of the legislation enacted in other states and provisions decided upon by international intellectual property rights organizations and conventions.   Findings: The result of this study is the reputation of the trademark is a presumption of the bad faith of the owner of the website who used that trademark as a name of the website which was registered in the digital environment, while the arbitral tribunal’s direction should be towards the good faith presumption of the respondent, in the case preceding the registration of the website, and the date of registration of the trademark.   Research Practical and Social Implications: The study is being prepared to address numerous challenges faced by the owners of renowned brands, including the ease of registering websites with names of such brands without conditions or regulations that prevent such abuses.   Originality/Value: The value of this study is being the first study to be conducted in the UAE.  Besides, the examination of the role of arbitration in protection the owner of famous trademark from the digital environment infringement adds new knowledge to the academicians.