Governance of Internet Domain Names against Cybersquatters in China: A Framework and Legal Perspective

Registration of domain names in China has been burgeoning at an accelerated pace in recent years. Due to the lack of an effective link between domain name registration and protection of trademarks, speculators, driven by the potential profit derived from registering famous marks and service marks of others, often abuse the registration and use of domain names. Consequently, trademark infringement stemming from illegal registration and use of domain names has emerged as a serious legal issue. Despite China's efforts to manage and control the registration of domain names through administrative schemes, such remedial measures seem inadequate to solve the thorny problems of "cybersquatting." This article examines the evolving legal structure in China that governs the registration and use of domain names and the recent development of judicial remedies against cybersquatters.