Domain Protection Services for Brands, Businesses & Online Identities

The Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (UDRP) is an administrative dispute resolution process for generic top-level domain disputes — .com, .net, .org and others. It was established by ICANN and is administered by accredited providers including WIPO. To succeed, you must establish three things: the disputed domain is identical or confusingly similar to your trademark, the registrant has no legitimate interest in the domain, and the domain was registered and is being used in bad faith.

The .IN Domain Dispute Resolution Policy (INDRP) is the equivalent mechanism for .IN and .CO.IN domains, administered by NIXI (National Internet Exchange of India). It operates similarly to the UDRP — the same three elements must be established — but it applies specifically to Indian country-code domains. For .com domains, UDRP applies instead.

No. A domain name and a trademark are separate rights. Owning a domain name does not give you trademark rights over the name — and it does not prevent someone else from registering that name as a trademark. Conversely, registering a trademark does not automatically give you the matching domain. Where they interact is in disputes: a registered trademark is your strongest tool in challenging a third party's domain registration.

The options depend on which domain extension is involved, whether you have a registered trademark, and the circumstances of the registration. If the domain is .com and you have a registered trademark, a UDRP complaint is usually the most effective route. If it's a .IN domain, INDRP applies. If the situation involves fraud or passing off, court proceedings before the Delhi High Court may be more appropriate.

A standard UDRP proceeding — from filing to decision — typically takes 45 to 60 days. If the respondent files a response, the panel has 14 days to issue its decision after the response period closes. Implementation of the decision follows shortly after, unless the registrant initiates court proceedings to stay the transfer.

Yes. In many cases, particularly where the registrant holds the domain speculatively rather than using it actively, a direct approach — a formal legal notice backed by trademark evidence — is enough to prompt a transfer. We often attempt this first where the facts are strong and the registrant's position is clearly weak.

If you've received a UDRP complaint and believe your registration is legitimate, you have the right to file a response. We represent respondents as well as complainants. The response needs to establish your legitimate interest in the domain and rebut the bad faith allegations — and it needs to be filed within the response deadline, which is usually 20 days from notification. Missing the deadline results in a default decision.

Cybersquatting is the registration of a domain name that incorporates someone else's trademark or brand name, typically to profit from their reputation — either by diverting traffic, selling the domain back, or setting up a misleading site. In India, cybersquatting can constitute trademark infringement, passing off, and in some circumstances fraud. The UDRP and INDRP provide administrative remedies; Indian courts can grant injunctions and damages.

A domain portfolio audit is the starting point. We look at your existing registrations, your trademark coverage, which extensions you've secured and which are vulnerable, and whether there are any gaps a third party could exploit. For businesses pre-launch, we advise on what to register before going public. For established brands, we review the existing portfolio and recommend defensive registrations.