TrendsApr 02, 2026
Michelle Yeoh Fronts New Mikimoto Campaign The campaign is a tribute to the year 1893, when Kokichi Mikimoto created the world’s first cultured pearl.
MajorsSep 29, 2016
De Beers Wins Dispute over ‘DeBeers.feedback’
The case has set a new intellectual property precedent regarding generic top-level domains.
London--A case brought by De Beers regarding a generic top-level domain (an internet extension, such as .com, .org, .info, etc.) has set a new intellectual property precedent.
In January, a company called Domain Admin, Whois Privacy Corp. of Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas registered the domain name “DeBeers.feedback.”
The site features 11 customer reviews of De Beers, as well as contact information for the company and links to DeBeers.com, the website for the chain of stores the company operates in conjunction with LVMH, and some of De Beers’ social platforms.
A disclaimer at the bottom of the website’s main page states, “This site is provided to facilitate free speech regarding De Beers. No direct endorsement or association should be conferred.”
De Beers filed a complaint against Domain Admin, Whois Privacy Corp. in July with the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) Arbitration and Mediation Center.
WIPO is a “self-funding agency of the United Nations, with 189 member states,” according to its website. It was established in 1967 and is headquartered in Geneva.
In the complaint, De Beers asked for the domain name to be transferred to them, arguing that “.feedback” domains are “intended to be used by brand owners to provide a convenient feedback channel for their public,” and that they had no affiliation with Domain Admin, Whois Privacy Corp.
De Beers also questioned the veracity of the posted customer reviews, and said that the site’s disclaimer is not very apparent.
This month, WIPO’s Arbitration and Mediation Center decided in favor of De Beers, noting in the administrative panel decision, De Beers Intangibles Limited v. Domain Admin, Whois Privacy Corp., that the disputed domain name is “identical to that trademark, disregarding the domain “.feedback.”
The case really hinged, however, on De Beers proving that at least some of the site’s reviews were falsified. WIPO’s decision noted that “at least five reviews now appear on the website that are dated before March 24, 2016 but did not appear on the website when printed out on March 24, 2016,” which it went on to deem “extremely suspicious.”
Domain Admin, Whois Privacy Corp. did not respond to the claims by a set deadline, which allowed the case to proceed without them.
This is the first such case in which a brand has been able to regain ownership of a domain name relating to a generic top-level domain.
De Beers was represented by Bird & Bird, an
international law firm with offices in dozens of cities across Europe and Asia.
Phil Sherrell, an intellectual property partner at Bird & Bird said of the decision, “This is an important victory for brand owners in the battle to keep control over the ever-expanding number of available domain names.”
“We’re very pleased,” said a De Beers spokesperson. “Luxury businesses such as De Beers make huge investments over a number of generations to grow the value of their brand, and any misuse of our IP could seriously undermine our brand equity.”
This is one of several recent victories for De Beers in the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center. This year, De Beers has brought at least five cases against companies and/or individuals, alleging they misused De Beers’ trademarks in various domain names.
In each of the five cases National Jeweler located, WIPO ruled that the domain names should be transferred to De Beers.
Phil Sherrell, an intellectual property partner at Bird & Bird said of the decision, “This is an important victory for brand owners in the battle to keep control over the ever-expanding number of available domain names.”
“We’re very pleased,” said a De Beers spokesperson. “Luxury businesses such as De Beers make huge investments over a number of generations to grow the value of their brand, and any misuse of our IP could seriously undermine our brand equity.”
This is one of several recent victories for De Beers in the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center. This year, De Beers has brought at least five cases against companies and/or individuals, alleging they misused De Beers’ trademarks in various domain names.
In each of the five cases National Jeweler located, WIPO ruled that the domain names should be transferred to De Beers.
The Latest
GradingApr 02, 2026
GIA Debuts New Campus in TaiwanIt is the only GIA school to offer the GIA Graduate Gemologist program in Chinese.
MajorsApr 02, 2026
Hoover & Strong Names New National Sales RepresentativeThe wholesale manufacturer and precious metals refiner has appointed Michael Angelo as its new national sales representative.
Brought to you by
Protect Your Customers and Your BusinessYou deserve to know what you are selling–to protect your customers as well as your business and your reputation.
MajorsApr 01, 2026
Foundrae Sues Pandora for Allegedly Copying Its Medallion DesignsFoundrae also accused the jewelry giant of copying its mood board style of marketing.
Weekly QuizApr 02, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
AuctionsApr 01, 2026
John Jacob Astor IV’s Titanic Pocket Watch Heads to AuctionA Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. timepiece owned by the American businessman who died on the Titanic will be offered at Freeman's Chicago.
SurveysApr 01, 2026
Consumers’ Outlook Improves Again in MarchThe Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index edged up, with optimism about the present outweighing worries about the future.
Brought to you by
Is This You? Every Jeweler Has This Problem; We Have the Solution.Every jeweler faces the same challenge: helping customers protect what they love. Here’s the solution designed for today’s jewelry business.
IndependentsApr 01, 2026
Zachary’s Jewelers’ Constance Polamalu to Release Children’s BookThe retailer’s Zach Bear gift comes to life in “Zach Bear and the Window Necklace,” which centers on curiosity, bravery, and helping.
Events & AwardsApr 01, 2026
AGA Opens 2026 Gemological Scholarship, Research Grant ApplicationsApplications are open for the AGA Gemological Scholarship Program through May 15, and until June 2027 for the Gemological Research Grant.
ColumnistsMar 31, 2026
Q1 Clues That Reveal Where Your Jewelry Store’s Sales Are Heading These customer behavior patterns say a lot about how successful your jewelry store is going to be this year, Emmanuel Raheb writes.
CollectionsMar 31, 2026
Mejuri Adds Silver to ‘Puzzle’ CollectionMejuri’s popular collection of 18-karat yellow gold vermeil rings debuted in sterling silver alongside new “Puzzle” slider charms.
CollectionsMar 31, 2026
Buddha Mama, Ashley Longshore to Host Pop-Up in DallasThe Miami-based jewelry brand and the NYC-based artist will be in Dallas from April 9-11.
SourcingMar 31, 2026
NDC Designates April 8 as 'World Diamond Day'The initiative invites those in the industry to share stories on social media highlighting the meaning and impact of natural diamonds.
SourcingMar 31, 2026
GIA VP Jillian Wolk to Take Over at Tracr Wolk’s first day on the job as CEO of Tracr, De Beers Group’s blockchain platform, will be May 1.
EditorsMar 30, 2026
Tom Moses Looks Back on His Decades at GIA Moses, who will leave the lab in May after nearly 50 years, discusses his start in the business, gemstones that stand out, and what’s next.
TrendsMar 30, 2026
Oscar Heyman Debuts First Spring CatalogThe new catalog, which showcases 35 one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry, is a compliment to the company’s popular holiday catalog.
SourcingMar 30, 2026
Rio Tinto Hauls Last Load from DiavikProduction has ceased at the Canadian diamond mine, which has yielded more than 150 million carats of rough diamonds in its 23-year run.
MajorsMar 30, 2026
Tanishq Opens First New England LocationThe store opening marks the 10th United States location for the India-based jewelry retailer.
MajorsMar 27, 2026
Saks Global Has Changed Its Mind About Closing These 3 StoresTwo Saks Fifth Avenue locations, one in Florida and one in California, and one Neiman Marcus store are off the chopping block.
IndependentsMar 27, 2026
Jimmy West, Longtime LJG Executive Director, Dies at 72West, who started in the art department at the Leading Jewelers Guild in 1979, is remembered for his patience, kindness, and dedication.
CollectionsMar 27, 2026
Itä’s ‘Yarí Whirl’ Ring Tells Every Side of the StoryIn the “Tesoro” version of the ring, our Piece of the Week, each side of the gold hexagonal nugget has a unique colored gemstone design.
WatchesMar 26, 2026
Q&A: Citizen Watch America President Jeffrey Cohen on Eco-Drive’s 50th AnniversaryCohen discusses the evolution of Citizen’s light-powered technology, the brand’s cross-generational appeal, and tariffs.
IndependentsMar 26, 2026
Peter Smith Pens Book on Human Behavior in Sales“Essentially Human: On Sales and Salespeople" reveals the underlying human traits and behaviors of the most successful sales professionals.
CollectionsMar 26, 2026
Lionheart Celebrates 13 Years of ‘Cassandane’The collection features symbols of love, luck, and light, based on the story of Queen Cassandane and Cyrus the Great of Persia.
Events & AwardsMar 26, 2026
NAJA, Instappraise Introduce New ScholarshipIt’s the third scholarship to be launched as part of the partnership to help appraisers advance their professional credentials.
Events & AwardsMar 26, 2026
JA Still Accepting Entries for 2026 CASE AwardsThe deadline for entries in the jewelry design competition has been extended to April 3.
