On December 14, 2023, the 2023 Annual Conference of the Asian Domain Name Dispute Resolution Center (ADNDRC) was successfully held in Kuala Lumpur. This year's Annual Conference was co-hosted by ADNDRC and the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC), with the CIETAC, the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), and the Internet Dispute Resolution Council of Korea (IDRC) as co-sponsors.

(Annual Meeting Speakers)

The annual conference was held both online and offline, with the participation of nearly 20 internationally renowned experts, scholars, representatives of dispute resolution organizations and intellectual property lawyers in the field of domain name dispute resolution from China, the U.S., Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore, and Hong Kong SAR of China. The seminar focused on the protection of substantive rights in domain name infringement, the best practices of domain name dispute resolution, and topics of great practical significance, such as how domain name registration and dispute resolution should develop and cope with the new challenges in the era of technological innovation, the rapid development of AI and the higher requirements for digital security. Nearly 200 experts attended the conference in person. The seminar also attracted a lot of attention online.

 (Opening remarks by Chairman Mr. Wang Chengjie)

At the opening ceremony, Mr. Wang Chengjie, Chairman of ADNDRC and Deputy Director and Secretary-General of CIETAC, delivered a significant speech. In his speech, Mr. Wang Chengjie briefly reviewed the extensive experience and practice of ADNDRC in the field of domain name dispute resolution over the past 20 years. The four offices of ADNDRC in Beijing, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Seoul have collaborated to handle thousands of domain name cases involving parties from nearly 50 countries and regions, providing trademark holders in Asia and even all over the world with domain name dispute resolution services that are multi-language, multi-territory, and multi-regime choice; from the aspects of domain name case processing, expert team building, and innovation of rules and practices, it has contributed to the entire domain name dispute resolution service. He said that at present, in the new era of artificial intelligence and Web 3.0, how should ADNDRC meet the new challenges in the field of domain name dispute resolution, and how to turn challenges into opportunities and open new horizons amidst the changing situation, need to be seriously studied. He urged for discussions among the industry experts at the Annual Conference to bring new inspirations and new ideas. As one of the founding organizations of ADNDRC and the current Chairman of ADNDRC, CIETAC will continue to actively participate and lead the management of ADNDRC and play an important role in promoting the development of domain name dispute resolution in Asia.

(Welcome address by Director Mr. Datuk Sundra Rajoo and keynote address by President Mr. Dato' Dr. Rahmat Mohamad)

Mr. Datuk Sundra Rajoo, Director of AIAC, delivered the welcome address at the inaugural session and Mr. Dato' Dr. Rahmat Mohamad, Chairman of AIAC Advisory Board and Professor of Teknologi MARA University, delivered the keynote address.

(Discussion on the theme of the annual session and question-and-answer session)

In the seminar session, the speakers delved into professional and in-depth discussions on four topics, including Domain Name Infringement Prevention, Procedures and Best Practices of Sub-Domain Center, Application of Artificial Intelligence in UDRP Procedures, and Improving Digital Security—Trends and Importance of Domain Name Registrations. In the second topic, Ms. Hang Min, the Senior Secretary of CIETAC, introduced CIETAC's domain name dispute resolution practice and case management experience. She also put forward targeted and operational practical guidelines and suggestions for domain name service users.

Speakers and on-site attendees also conducted Q&A and interactive exchanges, and the annual conference ended in a warm atmosphere and was a great success.

Co-founded by CIETAC and HKIAC in 2002, ADNDRC is one of the world's six Generic Top Level Domain Dispute Resolution Providers, authorized by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) in the United States, and the first Generic Top Level Domain Dispute Resolution Provider in Asia. AIAC and IDRC have recently joined ADNDRC, which now serves the Asian region and has a global reach with four offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, and Seoul. In the future, the offices of ADNDRC will continue to cooperate and liaise closely with each other to ensure the smooth functioning of ADNDRC's work, and to provide a strong assurance for the healthy and orderly development of the Internet under the rule of law.