On July 29 2010, China Internet Information Network Centre (CNNIC), the Chinese registrar for internet keywords and wireless keywords, issued new policies for resolving internet keyword and wireless keyword disputes.
The following are new under the new policies:-
- There is a time limit of two years from registration of the keyword for commencing a dispute resolution under the policies.
- Transfer of a keyword from the registrant to another person whether by way of sale, rental or other means is deemed bad faith provided that the person is the complainant or his competitor.
- The registrant will be deemed to have legitimate interests in the keyword if (a) he has been using the keyword in good faith; (b) reputation in the keyword has already been built up by him, even though the keyword has not been registered as a trade mark; (c) the keyword has been in proper use or lawful non-commercial use by him and that there is no intention to mislead consumers for the purpose of obtaining commercial benefit.
These changes are in line with changes made by the CNNIC in 2006 to the CNNIC domain name dispute resolution policies.
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