What is a .be domain name dispute?
In 2000, DNS. be, the Belgian domain name registration organization, commissioned CEPANI to work out a set of rules to handle disputes involving .be domain name disputes. A working group of experts, set up by CEPANI, tackled this task and drew up ad hoc rules governing the various phases of the proceedings.
The proceedings are extremely efficient as they are carried out exclusively online, without the parties having to appear before the Third-Party Decider appointed by CEPANI to settle the dispute. The Third-Party Deciders’ decisions are published on the CEPANI website. DNS.be implements the decision either by cancelling a domain name or transferring the domain name to the Complainant unless an appeal is lodged or a court decision orders the suspension of the cancellation or transfer within 14 calendar days of the decision.
The Third-Party Deciders appointed by CEPANI to resolve domain name disputes are selected from a regularly updated list of experts in intellectual property.
A model complaint form and complaint response form can be found under the tab “Model documents”.
The latest Rules for domain name dispute resolution have come into force on January 1, 2022. They are available in Dutch, French and English.