Commercial Surveys

Commercial Surveys

A Comparative Study of the Civil Liability of Domain Name Registrars for the Infringement of Third Parties' Intellectual Property Rights

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Jafar Nezamolmolki 1
mohsen sadeghi 2
1 attorney-at-law, PhD of Private Law
2 Associate Professor of Faculty of Law and Political Sciences of Tehran University
10.22034/bs.2025.2041253.3025
Abstract
The liability of domain name registrars for infringements of third-party intellectual property rights has not been adequately addressed in the legal frameworks of Iran and the United States, nor in the policies of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). This issue necessitates analysis and examination of other legal sources, especially judicial precedent or the general principles of civil liability. 
Based on the general principles of civil liability, the Civil Liability Act, and Article 66 of the Electronic Commerce Act, as well as developments in U.S. judicial precedent, there is no doubt regarding the liability of registrars in this field under both Iranian and U.S. legal systems. Furthermore, in these two legal systems, the inclusion of a non-liability clause by domain name registrars with respect to third parties does not exempt them from liability or the obligation to compensate for the damages incurred.
The inclusion of provisions in domain name registration contracts to address infringements of various intellectual property rights, in accordance with ICANN regulations, as well as the general acceptance of liability with limited exceptions in favor of the domain name applicant, is essential in the registration contracts of both ICANN and the Institute for Basic Science Research.
Additionally, under Iranian law, at the stage of domain name registration, it should be mandatory to refer to an identification system and verify the records of intellectual property related to the intellectual property rights that need to be registered. Other bases for liability, especially the theory of risk and the Ehteram Rule, should also be applied in this context, and the role of judicial precedent in this area should be developed and strengthened.
Keywords
Civil Liability/ Domain Name Registrar/ Non
Liability Clause/ Intellectual Property Rights

Subjects

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Commercial Surveys
Volume 23, Issue 130 - Serial Number 130
March and April 2025
Pages 105-124

  • Receive Date 15 September 2024
  • Revise Date 21 January 2025
  • Accept Date 17 February 2025