Domain Cybersquatting Hits All Time Low — Rate of
Rate of cybersquatting continues decline.
The rate of cybersquatting, as measured by arbitration filings under Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy, has hit an all time low.
A Reglike analysis of UDRP filings dating back to 2000, the first year UDRP was widely used, showed marked declines. UDRP filings were compared to the total number of .com domain names in existence each year to calculate an effective rate of cybersquatting.
Although .com domain names make up only a subset of the domain universe, the majority of UDRP filings are related to .com domains.
The data shows that the rate of UDRP filings to the .com registration base has rapidly decreased from one per 7,000 domains in 2000 to regarding 1 in 20,000 domains in 2008. Preliminary to-date 2009 data shows the rate may slip further this year. Growth rate in UDRP cases has been outstripped by the growth rate in domain registrations every year that registrations have grown.
To calculate the total number of UDRPs filed, Reglike collected actual statistics available from WIPO, and added National Arbitration Forum and eResolution statistics from UDRPsearch. Data from Czech Arbitration Court, a fresh service, was not considered. UDRP data was compared to end-of-year .com registration data collected by Zooknic and DomainTools.
The graph below shows the rate of UDRP cases to the total .com registration base, using an inverted scale.
The decrease in rate of cybersquatting may be attributed to a number of factors, counting greater knowledge and education regarding cybersquatting amongst the domain registrant community.
