What Is UDRP? Domain Glossary

Why it matters

The UDRP gives trademark owners a faster, cheaper path than court. The complainant must show the name is identical or confusingly similar to its mark, that the owner has no rights or legitimate interests, and that the name was registered and used in bad faith. WIPO lists a fee of USD 1,500 for a single-member panel on one to five names. Panels can only order transfer or cancellation, not damages. A common mistake is thinking a generic word is safe. It can be if used for its dictionary meaning, but not if used to trade on a brand. Check trademarks before buying.

Source: icann.org

Where we use this term

Related terms

Uniform Rapid Suspension (URS): URS is a fast, low-cost dispute process for clear cases of trademark abuse in domain names. It applies to new gTLDs and other extensions that adopt it, and it results in suspension of the domain.
Cybersquatting: Registering or using a domain name that matches or copies someone's trademark in bad faith, often hoping to sell it to the mark owner at a profit or to trade on its goodwill.
Bad faith: The legal standard under the UDRP for abusive domain behavior. A complainant must show a domain was both registered and used in bad faith, such as targeting a trademark to profit or to harm.
Reverse domain name hijacking (RDNH): Reverse domain name hijacking is when a trademark owner uses the UDRP in bad faith to try to take a domain from a rightful holder. A panel can formally declare it.
WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center: The WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center is the unit of the World Intellectual Property Organization that handles domain name disputes under the UDRP. It is a leading UDRP provider worldwide.

All 205 terms

Why it matters

Where we use this term

Buying or selling a domain?