UK Web Hosting

Dispute Policy for Domain Name Registration

Disputes regarding Domain Names are dealt with by the appropriate registration authority. These authorities cover such situations as use of a trademarked name, use of company names in a manner that could 'confuse', abusive registrations, cybersquatting, endangering the DNS system and so on. Disputes involving .com, .net, .org. are handled by ICANN. Disputes involving names ending in .uk are handled by Nominet UK

General Information for disputes:
- ICANN controlled names

All registrars in the .com, .net, and .org top-level domains follow the Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (often referred to as the "UDRP"). Under the policy, most types of trademark-based domain-name disputes must be resolved by agreement, court action, or arbitration before a registrar will cancel, suspend, or transfer a domain name.

Disputes alleged to arise from abusive registrations of domain names (for example, cybersquatting) may be addressed by expedited administrative proceedings that the holder of trademark rights initiates by filing a complaint with an approved dispute-resolution service provider.

The full ICANN dispute resolution policy is available for viewing at www.icann.org/udrp/udrp.htm

- Nominet controlled names

On learning of a dispute about an Internet Domain Name registered under a sub-domain of the .uk Top Level Domain, between the organisation or individual and another laying claim to a stronger right to register it, Nominet will assist the parties by providing the following services:
• Investigation - to determine whether a mutually acceptable resolution can be agreed between the complainant and domain name owner.
• Formal action under the rules - Under the rules for the .uk domain and sub-domains, Nominet UK may suspend delegation of an Internet Domain Name in certain circumstances. The dispute that arises most frequently is where it is drawn to Nominet UK's attention by a third party that in their view a Domain Name is being used in a manner likely to cause confusion to Internet users, such as use of a name trademarked by another company.
• The Nominet Alternative Dispute Resolution Service - a form of mediation whereby parties to a dispute agree with a neutral third party intermediary to assist them to reach a negotiated settlement agreement.

The full Nominet UK Dispute Resolution Service policy is available for viewing at www.nic.uk/ref/drs.html