The UDRP (Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy) is the process for resolving complaints about domains registered in bad faith.
The UDRP, or Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy, is ICANN's process for settling disputes over domains registered in bad faith. If someone registers a domain that copies your trademark to profit from it, the UDRP lets you ask an independent panel to transfer the domain to you or cancel it, without going to court.
Every ICANN-accredited registrar must follow it, and every domain holder agrees to it as part of their registration agreement. It covers generic domains like .com, .net and .org, and some country code registries have adopted it or a similar policy of their own.
What you must prove in a UDRP case
The complainant has to show all three of these:
- The domain is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark or service mark they have rights in.
- The current holder has no rights or legitimate interests in the domain.
- The domain was registered and is being used in bad faith.
Bad faith can include registering a domain mainly to sell it to the trademark owner, to block them from using it, to disrupt a competitor, or to attract visitors by creating confusion with their brand.
How the UDRP process works
- The complainant files with an approved provider, such as WIPO or the Forum, and pays a fee.
- The registrar locks the domain so it can't be transferred during the case.
- The domain holder gets 20 days to respond.
- One or three panellists review the written evidence. There are normally no hearings.
- The panel decides to transfer the domain, cancel it or deny the complaint.
- The registrar carries out the decision after 10 business days, unless the holder starts court proceedings in that time.
UDRP vs going to court
The UDRP is faster and cheaper than a lawsuit, and it works across borders. But a panel can only transfer or cancel a domain. It can't award damages or costs. Either side can still take the matter to court. For clear cases of cybersquatting or typosquatting, the UDRP is usually the first step.
Common UDRP mistakes
- Filing without a trademark: you need rights in a mark, not just a wish for the name.
- Ignoring legitimate use: someone using a common word for a genuine business isn't acting in bad faith just because you want the name.
- Overreaching: a panel can formally find reverse domain name hijacking if a complainant abuses the process to try to take a domain unfairly.
- Missing the deadline to respond, if you're the domain holder. The panel can decide the case without you.
If you hold a domain, keep your registrant contact details up to date so a complaint actually reaches you.