A public consultation on the practical implementation of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) system for the .eu Top Level Domain (TLD) is now open until 7thSeptember.

All interested parties are invited to participate. This is one of the last procedural steps before the sunrise period starts.

On June 16, another important milestone towards implementation of ".eu" was reached with the opening of the Registrars accreditation process by the Registry Eurid. The European Commission remains hopeful that the new .eu Top Level Domain can “open for business” in the fourth quarter of 2005.

The “.eu” Top Level Domain (TLD) will complement existing national country-code TLDs in the EU and give users the option of having a pan-European web address for their “internet presence”.

In view of the commercial value of domain names, disputes arise from time to time as to their ownership or the use being made of them. These disputes can be settled either via the ordinary jurisdiction or, where available, via alternative dispute resolution procedures. In many cases the cost of settling disputes between consumers and business via the courts greatly outweighs the economic value of the transaction concerned. This together with the time required make judicial settlement an impractical option. Alternative means of resolving disputes have therefore been developed in many sectors.

The legal framework for registration of domain names under .eu foresees an Alternative Dispute Resolution procedure (ADR) and provides for some clear cut rules to implement it. The .eu ADR is very much modelled upon the ADR system currently applied by the World Intellectual Propery Organization to solve disputes concerning domain names registered in .com, .net, .org and a in a number of national top level domains (ccTLDs). The .eu ADR system is based on recovery of costs, shall provide adequate procedural guaranties for the parties concerned, shall apply without prejudice to any court’s proceedings and will be provided in all 20 EU lanugages.

The organization selected by the European Commission to operate the .eu Registry, EURid, has appointed the Prague-based Arbitration Court attached to the Economic Chamber and the Agricultural Chamber of the Czech Republic (the "Czech Arbitration Court") to provide ADR for .eu domain name disputes.

The Czech Arbitration Court, assisted by a preparatory team of IP and IT specialist from around Europe has further refined the practical rules and procedures for .eu ADR contained in the European Commissions Public Policy Rules for .eu (EC Regulation 7874/2004). The public consultation is open until 7th of September.

To find out more about the .eu domains please visit: .eu Website