As previously reported, Andorra's ccTLD .AD is implementing serious reforms aimed at liberalizing registration rules. From October 22, registration of names in the domain zone will be available to everyone, and not just citizens of the country and organizations registered in it, as before. It is easy to understand that domain names in the .AD zone can be very popular with businesses.
However, the Domain Incite warns domain investors against excessive optimism. The fact is that recently Andorra Telecom, the registry of the national domain of Andorra, approved an updated policy to combat cybersquatting and concluded an agreement with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), according to which domain disputes will be considered within the framework of an adapted version of the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy - adDRP. And, apparently, this version significantly reduces the chances of registrants to win a dispute with copyright holders.
Thus, adDRP expands the list of intellectual property objects, including not only the names of registered trademarks, but also the names of famous people, as well as geographical names related to Andorra. Also, if the UDRP requires the complainant to provide evidence that the registrant has no legal rights or interests to use the domain name, then in the adDRP it will be enough to state this, referring to the information available to the complainant.
But the most alarming point is the clause that states that domain abuse may be recognized as a situation where the domain was registered or acquired with the primary purpose of subsequently selling it, leasing it, or otherwise transferring it under the control of third parties for the purpose of generating additional income. In fact, this clause prohibits the domain business as such.
