Mar. 8, 2002

Federal Law Trumps Domain Dispute-Resolution Policy

Focus Column - By Donald M. Gindy - A classic conflict played out recently: The duly enacted laws of a sovereign nation, the United States, squared off against an international dispute-resolution policy, of which the United States was a founding member and leading adherent. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was asked to decide whether the Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act prevails over the decision of an arbitrator construing the rules of the dispute-resolution policy of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers.