New Zealand Law Society - Domain Name Commission consults on dispute resolution process

Domain Name Commission consults on dispute resolution process

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New Zealand’s Domain Name Commission has opened its consultation on what the future of dispute resolution services could look like at the Commission.

The consultation includes:

  • A short 5-10 minute survey available to complete by 19 July 2019.
  • A paper inviting traditional submissions by 19 August 2019.
  • A strawperson dispute resolution process to build upon.
  • Online brainstorming space hosted on mural.co
  • An invitation to register interest in one of two ‘process co-creation’ workshops in Wellington or Auckland facilitated by CreativeHQ in late July.

Since 2006 the Commission has offered alternative dispute resolution services for resolving disputes between parties over the registration or use of .nz domain names. Its mediation and expert determination services are an alternative to going to Court, offering access to justice without the large price tag and intimidating proceedings.

The review will look at what processes might be needed to support the delivery of speedy, independent, fair and efficient digital justice. 

The Commission says the New Zealand model - similar to Nominet’s (.uk) model for dispute resolution - has been a success resolving more than 300 matters since its inception.

With the growth of e-commerce, convergence of content and registration disputes, technology changes and maturing of the online dispute resolution industry, the Commission wants to ask its local and international internet communities what they think about the future of dispute resolution. It’s the first major overhaul of the service since it commenced.  

The comment deadline to the paper or survey is 19 August, with opportunities to participate in a process workshop or brainstorm online with Commission staff.