Arab Center for Domain Name Dispute Resolution (ACDR) headed to be the 5th UDRP provider?

ICANN published the Agenda for the “ICANN Special Board Meeting” that is being held on the 28th of February. Included in the “consent agenda” is the topic “Arab Center for Dispute Resolution’s Proposal to Serve as UDRP Provider” which implies that ACDR is going to be approved and will become the 5th UDRP provider under ICANN.

The current 4 active UDRP providers are:

Asian Domain Name Dispute Resolution Centre
National Arbitration Forum
The Czech Arbitration Court Arbitration Center for Internet Disputes
WIPO – World Intellectual Property Organization

ICANN had received a proposal from the Arab Center for Domain Name Dispute Resolution (ACDR) in September 2010 to be recognized as one of the official dispute resolution providers under the UDRP. The proposal was submitted pursuant to the process specified at http://www.icann.org/en/dndr/udrp/provider-approval-process.htm.

The ACDR is jointly established by the Arab Intellectual Property Mediation and Arbitration Society (AIPMAS) and the Arab Society for Intellectual Property (ASIP), with headquarters in Amman, Jordan and additional offices in other Arab Countries. Both the AIPMAS (established in 1987) and ASIP promote the activities of the Arab Center of Mediation and Arbitration, established in 2003, active in resolving conflicts related to intellectual property through international arbitrators. If approved, the ACDR would be the first Approved UDRP Dispute Resolution Service Provider headquartered in an Arab state.

In October 2010 ICANN had requested comments to be submitted on the ACDR proposal and there were a few parties that were opposed to the proposal such as the Internet Commerce Association – ICA and George Kirikos:

Hello,

We are opposed to the proposal of adding another UDRP provider. ICANN 
needs to prioritize, and first bring existing UDRP providers under 
contract to ensure quality decisions and accountability. ICANN's Board
knows about this, yet has failed to act. We won't repeat our past 
comments -- go look them up.

Sincerely,

George Kirikos
President
Leap of Faith Financial Services Inc.
http://www.leap.com/