In the case before eResolution, an arbitration body authorised
by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN),
Gerry Coulter, a UK citizen, registered the domain name
dorsetpolice.com and used the site to criticise the activities of
Dorset police, his local force.
Dorset police then took the case before eResolution, arguing
that the person had no right to hold the domain name and that the
criticism on the web site was offensive “to a point beyond
libellous.”
However, eResolution upheld the name owner's right to register
and use the domain name, commenting: ”there is a general,
legitimate interest in allowing citizens to use descriptive domain
names to publish criticism about their government."
The case is said to represent the first time that a government
agency has attempted to obtain a transfer of a domain name that is
being used to criticise the government.
