DOMAIN NAMES
With trade being increasingly conducted over the internet, a strong internet presence is essential to every business. At the same time, rogue websites with similarly confusing names may cause considerable reputational harm. At IPvocate Africa, we understand your need to have both a strong and protected internet presence.
PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT AND PROTECTION
Your website, including its address, is a reflection of your business identity. At IPvocate Africa, we advise you on domain name strategies that meet your long-term objectives. We can also create trade marks for domain names and help you to secure them in Africa. This can sometimes be a difficult task because of national presence requirements, but we can cater for any such requirements through our network of correspondents.
DOMAIN NAMES DISPUTES AND UNIFORM DOMAIN-NAME DISPUTE-RESOLUTION POLICY (UDRP) PROCEEDINGS
We will assist you in resolving domain names disputes, cybersquatting, and in handling Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (UDRP). The UDRP is an expedited administrative process established by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) that allows trade mark owners to challenge an infringing domain name registration. In negotiation, court action or UDRP proceedings, we work efficiently, swiftly and discretely.
Sometimes infringing top level domain names are held by ‘letter-box companies’ in Africa or the surrounding islands. At IPvocate Africa, we can assist you to acquire these domain names.
DOMAIN NAME SELECTION
We will advise you on the best domain names. Where necessary, we will negotiate domain name assignments and licenses, domain name transfers, and leases of valuable domain names. All our work takes into account your overall intellectual property strategy and the need to avoid third-party infringement.