January 18th, 2022
FORUM CASE AND PANELIST ANNUAL REPORT

The FORUM is the alternative to WIPO, but not as many cases are heard.  In fact, for the last 6 months, the FORUM deliberated over 1,120 cases (half the number of WIPO cases), of which 1,022 (91%) were default cases with no response from the registrants. Of the 98 contested cases where Responses had been filed, 44 were denied and 8 were guilty of Reverse Domain Name Hijacking (RDNH). That means that if the Respondent contested the claim, he had a 45% chance of keeping the domain. Interestingly enough, of the default cases, 15 were denied (1.5%).

52 different panelists heard the contested claims.  The most active of whom was RICHARD HILL with 9 of which 4 were denials. He also transferred the most domains with 6 (1 was a split decision).  DEBRETT LYONS denied the most claims with 5.  And the panelist who entered the most RDNH decisions was GERALD LEVINE with 2.  Attorneys who were successful in representing their clients were ZAC MUSCOVITCH, JASON SCHAEFFER and myself. STEVE LIEBERMAN also won when he was named as a Respondent, but was holding the domain in escrow for a client.

FORUM PANELISTS WHO HAVE DENIED THE MOST CLAIMS FOR THE 6 MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021

1. DEBRETT LYONS – 5 Denials, 1 Transfer
2. RICHARD HILL – 4 Denials, 6 Transfers
3. GERALD LEVINE – 3 Denials, 2 RDNH, 2 Transfers
4. TERRY PEPPARD – 3 Denials, 1 RDNH
5. JEFF NEWMAN – 3 Denials, 1 RDNH, 1 Transfer
6. NICHOLAS SMITH – 3 Denials
7. ALAN LIMBURY – 3 Denials, 2 Transfers
8. HO HYUN NAHM – 2 Denials, 1 RDNH, 2 Transfers
9. STEVE LEVY – 2 Denials
10. DAVID SORKIN – 2 Denials, 1 Transfer
11. AARON NEWELL – 2 Denials, 1 Transfer
12. JAMES BRIDGEMAN – 2 Denials, 2 Transfers
13. DENNIS FOSTER – 2 Denials, 3 Transfers

FORUM PANELISTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021

1. DEBRETT LYONS – 6 Denials
2. GERALD LEVINE – 5 Denials, 3 RDNH
3. ALAN LIMBURY – 5 Denials
4. TERRY PEPPARD – 4 Denials, 1 RDNH
5. HO HYUN NAHM – 4 Denials, 1 RDNH
6. STEVE LEVY – 4 Denials
7. NICHOLAS SMITH – 4 Denials
8. JAMES BRIDGEMAN – 4 Denials
9. KENDALL REED – 3 Denials, 1 RDNH
10. JEFF NEWMAN – 3 Denials, 1 RDNH
11. DAVID SORKIN – 3 Denials
12. DARRYL WILSON – 3 Denials
13. PAUL DECICCO – 3 Denials
14. HON. NEIL BROWN – 2 Denials, 1 RDNH

FORUM PANELISTS ALL TIME DENIAL DECISIONS

1. DEBRETT LYONS – 128
2. HON. NEIL BROWN – 100
3. DAVID SORKIN – 66
4. DARRYL WILSON – 55
5. JAMES CARMODY – 54
6. SANDRA FRANKLIN – 52
7. KARL FINK – 51
8. TERRY PEPPARD – 44
9. ALAN LIMBURY – 44
10. MICHAEL ALBERT – 42
11. PAUL DECICCO – 36
12. DIANE CABELL – 33
13. STEVE LEVY – 23

Once again, I hope that this information will be useful to all domain investors particularly, who find themselves on the Responding end of a UDRP.

Howard Neu, Esq.

Howard@Neulaw.com