Uniform Rapid Suspension
URSS is the abbreviation for Uniform Rapid Suspension System. It is most commonly known as URS. It was designed exclusively to provide trademark owners with a quick and a low-cost process to take down infringing web sites. The URSS provides a chance for trademark owners to not only file a claim against the web domain but also involves a process, which will lead a domain to be placed offline.[1] The URSS was proposed by the trademark groups within the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) in an endeavor to cut back the large number of trademark infringements, including CyberSquatting.[2][3]
Functioning of the URSS
URSS was intended to provide a fast procedure to deal with the clear cases of infringement. When a trademark holder files a complaint, the registrar immediately freezes the domain. The registrar then notifies to the company against which the complaint has been filed. The company then has 14 days to submit an answer. If there is no reply from the company in 14 days or if the answer provided by the company is not reasonable then the domain name is taken down immediately.[4]
Difference between URSS and UDRP
The URSS was set-up to provide trademark owners a fast and effective way to protect their trademarks. It was developed as an alternative to the Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP). The main difference between the URSS and UDRP is that URSS is stricter than the UDRP and not anyone can file the URSS. The major difference between the UDRP and URSS is that with URSS, the domain name is never transferred; it stays with the owner though the owner is not able to have online active service for the rest of its registration. Also, unlike the UDRP, the URSS has an appeals process.[5]
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