The number of domain name disputes has increased worldwide

Domain Name Wire conducted a study to determine the number of domain disputes. The study was based on information provided by two major arbitration centers that handle domain disputes. According to the study, the number of domain disputes resolved under the Uniform Domain Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) increased by 25% compared to the previous year.

However, the domain dispute rate remains low. It can be calculated as the ratio of the number of disputed cases to the total number of registered domains.

Over the past year, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) considered 2,700 disputed cases, compared to 2,100 cases in 2009 and 2,300 in 2008.

The largest dispute resolution firm, the National Arbitration Forum (NAF), issued decisions in 2,000 cases in 2010. In 2009, this figure was 1,600. This is the lowest number of registered disputes since 2005.

The increase in disputes is due to companies' active efforts to protect their exclusive rights. For example, in 2010, Lego received over 100 domains (such as lego-toys.info) through the Melbourne IT Digital Brand service by court order.

Although the overall number of disputes is growing, it remains low compared to the number of newly registered domains. Compared to all .COM domain disputes, there is one dispute for every 19,300 registered domains.