IP Litigation & Disputes · UDRP
UDRP attorney for domain name disputes.
Someone registered a domain using your trademark, or a trademark owner is trying to take your domain. Solace Law represents brand owners and domain holders in Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (UDRP) proceedings before WIPO and other approved providers.
What Is the UDRP?
The UDRP is a fast, international administrative procedure for recovering domain names registered in bad faith, without filing a lawsuit.
It applies to .com, .net, .org and other generic top-level domains, and to a number of country-code domains that have adopted it. Cases are decided on written submissions by independent panelists, usually within about two months, and the remedy is transfer or cancellation of the domain.
Who We Represent
Both sides of a domain dispute.
We work with businesses and individuals in the United States and around the world, remotely, with regional divisions in Washington, D.C. and London.
Trademark owners (complainants)
- Cybersquatting and typosquatting domains that use your brand
- Domains used for phishing, fake stores, or impersonation
- Domains held for ransom or offered back to you for sale
- Pre-filing evaluation, evidence gathering, and cease-and-desist letters
- Drafting and filing the UDRP complaint
Domain holders (respondents)
- Responding to a UDRP complaint before the deadline
- Showing legitimate interests: prior use, fair use, or a generic or descriptive name
- Rebutting bad-faith allegations
- Requesting a finding of Reverse Domain Name Hijacking where a complaint is abusive
- Evaluating options after a decision
What Must Be Proven
The three UDRP elements.
A complainant must establish all three. Building, or dismantling, each one with evidence is where an experienced UDRP attorney makes the difference.
Identical or confusingly similar
The domain is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark or service mark in which the complainant has rights.
No rights or legitimate interests
The domain holder has no rights or legitimate interests in the domain name.
Registered and used in bad faith
The domain was registered and is being used in bad faith, such as to sell it to the brand owner, disrupt a competitor, or mislead consumers.
How It Works
The UDRP process, step by step.
Timelines vary by provider and case, but most UDRP proceedings move far faster than court litigation.
Case review
We review your trademark rights, the domain's history and use, and whether the UDRP is the right tool.
Complaint filed
The complaint is filed with an approved provider such as WIPO, and the registrar locks the domain.
Response
The domain holder generally has 20 days from commencement to file a response.
Decision
A panel of one or three panelists decides. If transfer is ordered, the registrar implements it unless court proceedings are timely filed.
Why Solace Law
Trademark counsel and litigator in one.
- Practicing trademark attorney before the USPTO, so your UDRP case is built on a clear view of your trademark rights
- 15+ years of litigation experience and 100+ civil court cases
- Experience in U.S. and international IP disputes, including UDRP proceedings through WIPO
- Coordinated strategy with trademark registration, TTAB proceedings, and infringement claims when a domain is part of a larger problem
- Kyle Scudiere, Esq. personally handles or oversees every matter
Articles
UDRP and domain dispute resources.
In-depth articles for trademark owners and domain holders on the questions we hear most.
How to File a UDRP Complaint to Recover a Domain Name
When the UDRP fits, the three elements you must prove, evidence to gather, and mistakes that sink complaints.
Read article → ArticleReceived a UDRP Complaint? How to Respond and Defend Your Domain
The response deadline, first steps, common defenses, Reverse Domain Name Hijacking, and options if you lose.
Read article → ArticleUDRP vs. ACPA Lawsuit: Choosing How to Recover a Domain Name
Speed, cost, remedies, and what must be proven, and when each path makes more sense.
Read article →Questions
Common UDRP questions.
Do I need a registered trademark to file a UDRP complaint?
Not always. A registered trademark is the clearest basis, but unregistered (common law) trademark rights can be sufficient if they are supported by evidence. We'll assess your rights before filing.
Can a UDRP get me money damages?
No. The only remedies under the UDRP are transfer or cancellation of the domain name. Where damages are the goal, a court action may be an option, and we can discuss whether it fits your situation.
How long does a UDRP case take?
Many cases are decided roughly two months after the complaint is filed, though timing depends on the provider, the number of domains, and whether the domain holder responds.
I received a UDRP complaint about my domain. What should I do?
Act quickly. The response deadline is short, and an unanswered complaint is often decided against the domain holder. Don't transfer or change the domain without advice; contact us to review the complaint.
Which domains does the UDRP cover?
It covers generic top-level domains such as .com, .net, and .org, along with many newer gTLDs and some country-code domains that have adopted it. Some country-code domains use their own dispute policies instead.
Can you help if I'm based outside the United States?
Yes. The UDRP is an international procedure, and we represent clients around the world in UDRP proceedings. We do not advise on foreign law.
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