Internet domain-name problems caused by a first-come, first-served registration principal will get worse unless a strong global registration policy is enforced, according to ABC Namebank president Naseem Javed.

"Ninety-nine percent of existing domain names can be seriously challenged because they do not conform to the rules of intellectual property and trademark laws," Mr. Javed said.

"Without the backing of trademark law, it would be almost impossible to create a global system, and to ensure the credibility that e-commerce requires."

Internet domain-name registrations are monitored by US-based Network Solutions and the Internet Corp. for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

Mr. Javed said the development of regulatory guidelines had been unable to keep up with the fast proliferation of Internet usage.  The number of global domain names registrations daily are projected to hit 50,000, compared to 11,000 now.

The first-come, first-served registration principal has led to the appearance of the "cybersquatters" - users who register Web addresses resembling trademarked names, hoping to sell them at a premium later.

ICANN recently ruled that domain names would not be granted to parties who did not submit contact details in a move aimed at cutting down registrations by cybersquatters.

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