Republic of Korea

Republic of Korea
République de Corée
Republik Korea
Report Q173
in the name of the Korean Group
by Doug Jay LEE
Issues of co-existence of trademarks and domain names: public
versus private international registration systems
1.
Analysis of current domain name registration procedures
1.1
Nature of signs
What is the status of a domain name in your country? Does the registration of a domain
name confer exclusive rights to the proprietor? Can domain names be the subject of
dealings such as assignment, mortgage and the like?
There is no national law dealing with the status of a domain name in South Korea.
In this country, the Korean Network Information Center (KRNIC), which is authorized by
the Ministry of Information and Communication, administers the domain name system for
".kr" top-level domain names (local ccTLDs). Since August 23, 2002, the KRNIC has appointed other corporations such as the Registrar (the approved registration authority)
and has assigned them the responsibility over the administrative process relating to domain name registrations.
Applicants can obtain domain name registrations and maintain their registered domain
names by signing the Agreement with the Domain Name Registration Policy and Rules
set up by the KRNIC. Just one applicant, the one who secures the earliest filing date, can
obtain a registration for the domain name in accordance with the first-to-file policy.
It is not proper to state that a domain name registration confers exclusive right to the proprietor in Korea. Although only the domain name owner is entitled to use the domain, the
owner cannot prevent or stop others from using the domain name for different purposes
such as inserting the domain name in an advertisement. In sum, domain name registration provides the owner with some kind of mechanical independence, but does not provide exclusive right to use the domain name. Domain names can be the subject of assignment in Korea, but cannot be the subject of mortgage since there is no proper
recording system for mortgages on domain names.
1.2
Legislation
Is there any legislation in your country dealing specifically with domain names and the
domain name registry? If so, please describe it.
There is no legislation passed by National Assembly (Legislative Branch of Korean Government) of Korea. However, there are administrative rules and regulations which specifically deal with domain names. The Domain Name Registration Rules came into force in
September 2001 by the KRNIC, and the Domain Name Dispute Mediation Rules came
into force in January 2002 by the Domain Name Mediation Committee ("DDMC"), which
was established by the KRINC.
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1.3
Type of registry
Which organisation has been assigned responsibility for the ccTLD domain in your
country? Is this organisation a public or a private entity? If it is a private entity is it subject
to a regulator? Is the registry's conduct of business (e.g. the setting of registration fees)
subject to judicial or independent review?
As stated in 1.1 above, the Korean Network Information Center (KRNIC) has been assigned the responsibility for the local ccTLDs system by the Ministry of Information and
Communication. The KRNIC is a private, non-profit corporation. However, it was established under the Promotion of the Information and Communication Network Act and the
Information Protection Act, and is still under the umbrella of the Ministry of Information
and Communication.
The KRNIC acts as a regulator and conducts judicial or independent review over the registry's conduct of business. In other words, the KRNIC performs policy functions. It also
performs technical functions such as operation and management of the DNS through a
subordinate committee. The KRNIC also sets and changes the registration fees, and setting of the registration fees is not subject to judicial review.
1.4
National treatment
Does the applicant require legal or natural status in your country to register a domain
name?
The applicant for a ".kr" top-level domain name (a local ccTLD) should have a local address in Korea. More specifically, a foreign corporation must have a business registration
in Korea, and its main office should be registered in Korea. If a foreigner has an alien registration and an address in Korea, he/she may register for .pe.kr domain name.
1.5
Bars to registration
Is the domain name registry in your country entitled to reject applications on public policy grounds? If so, on which grounds (e.g. immorality or generic terms)?
The Registrar may refuse registration of domain names such as KRNIC, CHONGWADAE, BLUEHOUSE, CWD, WWW, BQ-, etc., for the purpose of protecting stable
management of the domain name system and for the public benefit, pursuant to Paragraph 5 (5) of the Domain Name Registration Policy set up by the KRNIC.
1.6
Appeals
Does the applicant for a domain name have the right to appeal against the refusal of the
registry to register a domain name? If so, to which entity and based on what kind of procedure (e.g. arbitration or administrative procedure)?
There is no appeal procedure against such a refusal. The only course the applicant may
take is to file a lawsuit against the refusal with a district court through the traditional court
system.
1.7
Publication, opposition and cancellation
Is the application for or registration of a domain name made public in your country? Is
there any procedure available to third parties to oppose such application (prior to registration) or registration? If so, on what (relative or absolute) grounds (e.g. prior trademark
registration or generic term) and based on what kind of procedure (e.g. arbitration or administrative procedure)? Is it possible for a registered domain name to be cancelled? If
so, by whom and on what (relative or absolute) grounds (e.g. prior trademark registration
or generic term)? Is it possible to request cancellation of a domain name based on general statutory law (e.g. unfair competition law)? Which procedure is followed, in the case
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that cancellation is required? Is the ccTLD registry liable for domain names which infringe trademarks?
The application for a domain name is not published in South Korea. There is no procedure available to third parties to oppose such application (prior to registration). A party
may not apply for a domain name that has already been applied for since it becomes unavailable once the application is filed.
If a domain name is registered, the domain name registration is immediately published
without any opposition procedure available.
Instead, it is possible for the owner of a prior trademark registration to have a domain
name cancelled or returned by filing a complaint with the Korean Domain Name Dispute
Resolution Committee based on an official regulation (not based on general statutory law
such as unfair competition law). The regulation providing an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) procedure to resolve domain name disputes involving ".kr" top-level domain
names (local ccTLDs) came into force on January 4, 2002. This regulation is modeled after the Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) adopted by the Internet Corporation
for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
Once a complaint is filed, the Domain Name Dispute Resolution Committee deal with the
matter in accordance with statutory administrative procedure or arbitration. If the complaint is regarded as legitimate, the Committee will order cancellation or transfer of the
domain name. The Committee's decision can be appealed to a district court. If no appeal
is filed with the district court within a specified period of time, the Registrar will then enforce the decision.
A party may bring a lawsuit in court for cancellation or transfer of the domain name regardless whether the party has initiated any action through the Domain Name Disputer
Resolution Committee. Once a lawsuit is filed, any proceedings in the Domain Name Dispute Resolution Committee concerning the same domain name will be stopped.
The ccTLD registry or the Registrar is not liable for domain names that may infringe
trademarks.
1.8
Maintaining the registration
Must use requirements be satisfied in order to maintain the domain name registration? If
so, is there any definition of what constitutes use? Is a renewal fee payable, in addition
to, or in place of, a maintenance fee?
Use of a domain name is not required to maintain the registration. If the domain name
owner pays a maintenance fee during a one-month period prior to the expiration date, the
registration is maintained for another year. There is no additional renewal fee requested.
1.9
Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs)
Are gTLDs subject to regulatory control in your country? If so, in what ways? Are there
any differences to the treatment of ccTLDs? If so, what are they?
There is no organization or legislation in South Korean dealing with regulatory control of
gTLDs.
2.
Proposals for adoption of uniform rules
2.1
Nature of signs
Should the registration of a domain name confer exclusive rights to the proprietor?
Should domain names be subject of dealings such as assignment, mortgage and the
like?
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It does not seem proper to confer exclusive rights to the proprietor by domain name registration. Trademark registration requires thorough examination process in order to grant
the exclusive right to the trademark holder. However, since domain name registration
does not provide such thorough examination process, conferring exclusive right to the
proprietor may result in violating other parties' proprietary rights. It seems acceptable and
also necessary to allows domain names to be the subject of dealings such as assignment, mortgage, etc.
2.2
Legislation
Should legislation be enacted to deal specifically with domain names and domain name
registries?
Yes. We think that such legislation should be enacted.
2.3
Type of registry
Do you think the domain name system should be administered by public or private entities?
If you think that the DNS should be administered by private entities should they only perform technical functions or should they also perform policy functions? If you think that
they should only perform technical functions who should perform the policy functions?
What do you think Government's involvement in a privately administered DNS should
be? If the DNS is administered by private entities do you think that their actions should
be subject to a regulator and to an independent review? If so, which institutions should
perform these functions?
If you think that the DNS should be administered by public entities which institutions
should perform the technical and policy functions? Should the assignment of gTLDs and
the key internet co-ordination functions (e.g. the stable operation of the Internet's root
server system) be performed by a treaty based multi-governmental organisation? If so,
should an existing organisation such as WIPO or ITU be tasked with these functions or
should a new one be created?
We think that the domain name system should be administered by public entities such as
the Korean Intellectual Property Office, and that they should perform both the technical
and policy functions.
Also, we think that such functions as assignment of gTLDs and the key Internet co-ordination should be performed by a treaty based multi-governmental organization, and that
an existing organization such as WIPO or ITU should be tasked with these functions.
2.4
National treatment
Do you think domain name registries should be entitled to impose restrictions on the
application process based on the nationality of the applicant?
Yes. We think that the Registrar should be entitled to impose restrictions on the application process based on the nationality and presence of the applicant.
2.5
Bars to registration
Do you think domain name registries should be entitled to reject applications on public
policy grounds? If so, on which grounds (e.g. immorality or generic terms)?
We think that the Registrar should be entitled to reject applications on the grounds of
public order and custom.
2.6
Appeals
Do you think that the applicant for a domain name should have the right to appeal against
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the refusal of the registry to register a domain name? If so, to which entity and based on
what kind of procedure (e.g. arbitration or administrative procedure)?
We think that the applicant for a domain name should have the right to appeal against the
refusal of the registry to register a domain name. We think that such an appeal should be
made based on administrative procedure with the Registrar, a local Trademark Office, or
other governmental (or public) entity.
2.7
Publication, opposition and cancellation
Do you think that the application for or registration of a domain name should be made
public? Do you think that there should be a procedure available to third parties to oppose
such application (prior to registration) or registration? If so, on what (relative or absolute)
grounds (e.g. prior trademark registration or generic term) and based on what kind of
procedure (e.g. arbitration or administrative procedure)? Do you think that it should be
possible for a registered domain name to be cancelled? If so, by whom and on what
(relative or absolute) grounds (e.g. prior trademark registration or generic term)? Do you
think it should be possible to request cancellation of a domain name based on general
statutory law (e.g. unfair competition law)? If so, which procedure should be followed? Do
you think domain name registries should be liable for domain names which infringe
trademarks?
We think that the registration of a domain name should be made public, and that there
should be a procedure available to third parties to oppose the registration. In other words,
it should be possible to request cancellation of a domain name. However, we do not think
that the application for a domain name (prior to registration) should be published for opposition. Furthermore, opposition to application may not be practical sine there is no examination process for domain name registration.
We think that such an opposition or cancellation action should be made based on administrative procedures rather than on general statutory law such as unfair competition
law. Such procedures may be provided in addition to, or in place of, a domain name dispute resolution procedure.
The underlying grounds for an opposition or cancellation action may be based on prior
trademark registrations, public order and custom, trademark infringement, or unfair competition.
Lastly, we do not think that either the domain name registry or the Registrar should be liable for domain names which infringe trademarks.
2.8
Maintaining the registration
Do you think that use requirements should be satisfied in order to maintain the domain
name registration? If so, what should constitute use? Should a renewal fee be payable,
in addition to, or in place of, a maintenance fee?
We think that there should be some kind of use requirement in order to maintain the domain name. More specifically, a party should be allowed to apply for cancellation of the
domain name if the domain is not used for a specified period of time even if maintenance
fee has been paid.
3.
Assessment of the trademark registration system
Do you think that the publicly administered trademark registration system is adequate
and sufficiently efficient as compared with the privately administered system of domain
name registration? If not, please explain.
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We think that the publicly administered trademark registration system is adequate and
sufficiently efficient as compared with the privately administered system of domain name
registration. However, there are still opposing opinions in South Korea maintaining that
there is no need for a publicly administered system of domain name registration taking
account of the protection of trademark rights, and that the domain name registration regulations should adhere to the first-to-file policy without prior examination of the grounds
for filing, such as prior trademark registrations.
Résumé
En Corée du Sud, le Centre de l'Information du Réseau de la Corée(KRNIC), autorisé par le
Ministère de l'Information et de la Communication gère le système du nom de domaine ".kr",
noms du domaine de haut niveau(ccTLDs local). Seulement un(e) candidat(e), celui ou celle qui
s'engage en premier peut obtenir l'enregistrement du nom de domaine selon la règle du " premier arrivé, premier servi ".
Bien que ce soit uniquement le propriétaire du nom de domaine qui a le droit d'utiliser le domaine, il ne peut pas empêcher ou arrêter les autres d'utiliser son nom de domaine pour les buts
différents, commel' insertion du nom de domaine dans des publicités. Finalement, l'enregistrement du nom de domaine fournit au détenteur une sorte de l'indépendance mécanique,
mais pas de droit exclusif d'utilisation du nom. Le nom de domaine peut être, en Corée, le sujet
de la cession mais non pas celui de l'hypothèque. Ceci parce qu'il n'y a pas de système propre
d'enregistrement pour l'hypoyhèque du nom de domaine. Cependant, on pense qu'il serait acceptable et en même temps nécessaire de permettre aux noms de domaine d'être l'objet de la
transaction telles que cession et hypothèque etc.
Le KRNIC est la société privée non lucrative mais exerce les fonctions réglementaires. Il assume également les fonctions techniques telles que opétation et gestion du DNS(Systeme de
Nom de Domaine) par un comité subalterne. Le système de nom de domaine devrait être géré
par une entité publique comme le Bureau Coréen de la Propriété Intellectuelle qui se chargerait
de remplir la mission technique et réglementaire.
En outre, il nous paraît évident qu'une telle fonction comme la cession du gTLDs et la coordination de l'Internet clef devrait être exécutée par une organisation muti-gouvernementale sur la
base d'un traité, par exemple OMPI(Organisation Mondiale de la Propriété Intellectuelle) ou
UIT(Union Internationale des Télécommunications) qui sont les organisations existantes.
Le demandeur étranger pour le ".kr", le nom de domaine de haut niveau doit avoir le registre du
commerce et son siège enregistré en Corée. On pense que le Registrar doit avoir le droit d'imposer les restrictions sur le processus d'application basé sur la nationalité et la présence du demandeur.
Il n'existe pas de procédure de l'appel contre le refus de l'enregistrement du nom de domaine. Il
n'y a non plus de procédure valable pour les troisièmes parties permettant d'opposer l'application du nom de domaine(avant l'enregistrement). Une fois enregistré, l'enregistrement de ce
nom de domaine est publié immédiatement sans aucune procédure de l'opposition valable.
Cependant, il faudra que le demandeur du nom de domaine ait le droit de faire l'appel contre le
renvoi de son enregistrement. En outre, un tel appel doit s'appuyer sur la procédure administrative regit par le Registrar, soit le Bureau local de Marque deposée ou une autre entité gouvernementale(ou publique).
On croit que l'enregistrement du nom de domaine doit être public et qu'il faut une procédure, valable pour les troisièmes parties, permettant d'opposer à l'enregistrement. Les causes sous-jacentes d'une éventuelle opposition ou annulation devraient être liées à l'enregistrement des
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marques deposés antérieur, ordre public et coutume, infraction à la marque deposée ou compétition déloyale. De plus, une telle démarche de l'opposition ou l'annulation devrait plustôt se
fondée sur les procédures administratives que sur la loi explicite générale telle que loi relative à
la compétition déloyale. De telles procédures seraient établies en plus de ou à la place de la
procédure de la résolution du conflit lié au nom de domaine.
Il n'existe en Corée du Sud aucune organisation ou législation concernant le contrôle régulateur
du gTLDs. Il n'y a non plus de loi nationale relative au statu du nom de domaine. Cependant, la
législation de ce genre doit être mise en place.
Il ne serait pas convenable à donner le droit exclusif au propriétaire par le biais de l'enregistrement du nom de domaine. L'enregistrement de la marque deposée demande le processus
de l'examen approfondi afin d'accorder le droit exclusif au détenteur de la marque. Mais étant
donné que l'enregistrement du nom de domaine ne fournit pas d'un tel processus de l'examen
détaillé permettant de conférer au détenteur le droit exclusif, il est possible de se produire la violation du droit de propriété. Le Registrar doit avoir le droit de renvoyer l'application sur les motifs de l'ordre public et la coutume.
On se met d'accord pour dire qu'il est plus adéquat et efficace de gérer le système de l'enregistrement de la marque deposée de manière publique que de contrôler celui de l'enregistrement
du nom de domaine par des entités privées. Cependant, il existe encore dans le pays l'opinion
opposée qui insiste qu'il n'est pas nécessaire de mettre en place le système d'enregistrement
du nom de domaine géré publiquement tenant compte de la protection du droit de marque deposée et que le réglement de l'enregistrement du nom de domaine doit faire l'objet de la règle
du " premier arrivé, premier servi " sans l'examen antérieur sur les motifs du dossier, comme
l'enregistrement de la marque deposée.
Zusammenfassung
In Südkorea übt das Koreanische Network Information Center (KRNIC), das durch das Ministerium für Informationen und der Kommunikation autorisiert wird, das Domain-Namen-System
für den Top-Level-Domain-Namen ".kr" aus (lokales ccTLDs). Nur ein Bewerber, der das früheste Filing-Datum sichert, kann eine Registrierung für den Domain-Namen in Übereinstimmung
mit dem First-To-File-Prinzip (first-to-file policy) erhalten.
Obwohl nur der Domain-Namen-Inhaber ein Anrecht hat, die Domain zu benutzen, kann der Inhaber niemanden davon abhalten oder kann andere nicht stoppen, den Domain-Namen für unterschiedliche Zwecke zu benutzen, zum Beispiel, Domain-Namen in einer Reklameanzeige
einzufügen. In der Summe versieht die Domain-Namen-Registrierung den Inhaber mit einer Art
mechanischen Unabhängigkeit, aber stellt nicht ausschließliches Recht zur Verfügung, den Domain-Namen zu verwenden. Domain-Namen können das Thema von Assignment in Korea sein,
aber können nicht der Gegenstand einer Hypothek sein, da es kein korrektes Aufnahmesystem
für Hypotheken auf Domain-Namen gibt. Jedoch denken wir, dass es annehmbar und auch
notwendig zu sein, Domain-Namen für Geschäftshandlungen wie Assignment, Hypothek etc.
zuzulassen.
Das KRNIC ist eine private, gemeinnützige Korporation, führt aber Politikfunktionen durch. Es
führt auch technische Funktionen, wie Betrieb und Management der DNS, durch einen Subkommitee durch. Wir denken, dass das Domain-Namen-System durch Personen des öffentlichen Rechts wie das Koreanische Patentamt (Korean Intellectual Property Office) verwaltet werden sollte und dass sie die beiden technischen Funktionen und Richtlinienfunktionen
durchführen sollten. Auch denken wir, dass solche Funktionen wie Assignment von gTLDs und
von "Key Internet Coordination" durch eine vertragsbasierte multinationale Organisation durch-
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geführt werden sollten und dass eine vorhandene Organisation wie das WIPO oder das ITU mit
diesen Funktionen betraut werden sollte.
Der fremde Bewerber für den Top-Level-Domain-Namen ".kr" muss einen Geschäftssitz in Korea haben. Wir glauben, dass der Verwaltungsbeamte ein Anrecht haben sollte, Beschränkungen dem Anwendungsprozeß aufzuerlegen, der auf der Nationalität und der Anwesenheit des
Bewerbers basiert.
Es gibt kein Berufungsverfahren gegen die Ablehnung des Registratur eines Domain-Namens.
Es gibt kein Verfahren, das einen Dritten eine Beschwerde gegen die Applikation ermöglicht.
Wenn ein Domain-Namen registriert wird, wird die Domain-Namen-Registrierung sofort ohne irgendein Oppositionsverfahren veröffentlicht.
Jedoch denken wir, dass der Bewerber für einen Domain-Namen das Recht haben sollte, gegen
die Ablehnung einer Registratur Beschwerde einzulegen. Ebenso sollte ein solches Beschwerdeverfahren auf einer allgemeinen Rechtweg stattfinden können in Zusammenarbeit mit den
zuständigen Verwaltungsbeamten einen Patentanwalt oder ähnlich gearteten staatlichen Einrichtungen.
Wir denken, dass die Domain-Namen-Registrierung öffentlich gemacht werden sollte und dass
es ein Verfahren geben sollte, das die Dritten ein Beschwerdeverfahren ermöglicht. Die Grundlagen für eine Beschwerde sollten folgende sein: vorherige Warenzeichen-Registrierungen, Verletzungen von Aufstand und Sitte, Warenzeichenverletzung oder unlauterer Wettbewerb. Auch
denken wir, dass solch ein Einspruchverfahren eher auf administrativen Verfahren basieren
sollte als auf allgemeinem Gesetz wie z.B. Gesetzen gegen unlauteren Wettbewerb. Solche
Verfahren können zusätzlich zu oder anstelle, einem Verfahren der Domain-Namens-Auflösung
(Domain Name Dispute Resolution) zur Verfügung gestellt werden.
Es gibt keine Organisation oder Gesetzgebung in Südkorea, die sich mit regulativer Kontrolle
von gTLDs beschäftigen. Es gibt kein nationales Recht, das sich mit dem Status von DomainNamen befaßt. Aber wir glauben, dass solche Gesetzgebung auf den Weg gebracht werden
sollte.
Es erscheint nicht richtig zu sein, dem Besitzer ausschließliche Rechte durch Domain-NamenRegistrierung zu verleihen. Die Warenzeichen-Registrierung erfordert einen gründlichen Prüfungsprozeß, um ausschließliche Rechte dem Warenzeichenhalter zu garantieren. Da jedoch
die Domain-Namen-Registrierung nicht solchen gründlichen Prüfungsprozeß liefert, könnte das
Verleihe ausschließlicher Rechte auf den Besitzer die Rechte Dritter verletzen. Wir denken,
dass der Verwaltungsbeamte den Antrag bei Verletzung der guten Sitten zurückweisen können
sollte.
Wir glauben, dass das öffentlich ausgeübte Warenzeichen-Patentierung-System ausreichend
efficient wäre verglichen mit dem privat ausgeübten System der Domain-Namen-Registrierung.
Jedoch gibt es in Korea noch Meinungen, die keine Notwendigkeit eines staatliches System der
Domain-Namen-Registrierung zu inaugurieren sehen, und die die Ansicht vertreten, dass das
bisherige Verfahren der First-To-File-Policy ohne Patentprüfungsverfahren genügend sei, und
wichtiger als Patent- bzw. Warenzeichenschutz.
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