WIPO, one of the primary domain name dispute arbitration forums, just announced that it will be requiring all UDRP filings to be made electronically, no hard copies required or permitted, starting March 1, 2010, with the option to file electronic-only or by paper through February 28. Not only is the change designed to speed up the notification process for newly filed complaints, the move to e-filing should significantly decrease the cost of prosecuting and defending UDRP complaints – as the expense of shipping documents to Geneva has a way of adding up – especially when opting for a three-member panel! At 50 megabytes total, the file-size limits should be generous enough to cover even the lengthy stack of exhibits that tend to accompany a well-documented case. And not to worry – to be sure proper notice of a dispute is given, WIPO will still take care of sending written notice of a complaint to the respondent’s physical address.  Now if only the National Arbitration Forum (NAF) would follow WIPO’s lead  –  NAF is still penalizing UDRP respondents for failing to fax or mail hard copies of responsive papers and all exhibits for receipt by the forum on the due date.

Tags: domain name policy, UDRP, WIPO