Domain group aims to cut .info fraud

In a bid to reduce the number of internet domain names registered using fraudulent trademark information, the company managing the new .info domain has tightened its registration policies.

Domain manager Afilias said it has modified its rules after thousands of applicants abused a pre-registration process for trademark holders this summer before generic names like Disney.info were made available to the public.

Afilias will require anyone wanting to register a challenged name to produce proof of their valid trademark, and will offer registrars the ability to correct any erroneous data information or request deletions of domain names.

The move takes place as the company plans to file a "bulk challenge" to a fifth of the 50,000 names submitted during the pre-registration period.

"Afilias is eager to ensure that the registration process is an effective test bed from which to learn how intellectual property can be adequately protected during the roll out of a new top-level domain," said chief executive Hal Lubsen.

The policy change was made in accordance with the company's agreement with the World Intellectual Property Organisation which manages the expedited dispute process for .info.

According to Afilias, about 650,000 .info addresses have been registered, 52,000 of them during the pre-registration phase.

Roughly 700 challenges have been filed so far and the challenge period will remain open until 26 December 2001.