Someone registered a domain with my brand — what can I do?
This is classic cybersquatting, and you usually have two routes. The faster one is an administrative complaint under the UDRP (or the equivalent procedure for the relevant extension), which can lead to the domain being transferred to you or cancelled. The other is court proceedings, used where the situation is more complex or damages are sought. We assess which route fits and act on it, coordinating local counsel for country-code domains.
What is the UDRP and how does it work?
The Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy is ICANN’s administrative procedure for recovering domains registered in bad faith, decided by providers such as WIPO. To succeed you must show three things: the domain is identical or confusingly similar to your mark, the holder has no rights or legitimate interest in it, and it was registered and is being used in bad faith. It is faster and cheaper than litigation, but the only remedies are transfer or cancellation — not damages.
How is recovering a .eu or .es domain different?
Country-code and .eu domains do not use the UDRP but their own procedures: EURid operates an alternative dispute resolution procedure for .eu, and .es and other country codes have their own rules, often with particular requirements on standing and evidence. The principles are similar but the detail differs by extension. We handle .eu directly and coordinate correspondent counsel for the relevant country-code procedures.
What is the difference between a UDRP case and going to court?
A UDRP case is a documents-only administrative procedure, typically resolved in a couple of months, whose only outcome is transfer or cancellation of the domain. Court proceedings are slower and more expensive but can award damages, address wider trademark infringement and reach situations the UDRP cannot. We advise which is proportionate and coordinate judicial proceedings where administrative resolution is unavailable or inadequate.
Should I register domain names defensively?
Often, yes. Registering the key variants of your brand across the main generic and country-code extensions — and in the markets you are entering — is usually far cheaper than recovering a domain later through a dispute. Defensive registration also covers common misspellings used for typosquatting. We design a defensive portfolio proportionate to your brand and your expansion plans.
Can I defend myself against a UDRP complaint?
Yes. A complaint does not mean the domain will be transferred: the complainant has to prove all three UDRP elements, and a holder with a genuine right or legitimate interest, or who did not register in bad faith, can keep the domain. There are also defences against abusive complaints. We act for domain holders defending UDRP and equivalent complaints.
Does owning a trademark guarantee I will get the domain?
No. Owning a trademark is necessary but not sufficient: you still have to prove the holder lacks rights or a legitimate interest and that the domain was registered and used in bad faith. A holder may have a legitimate reason — their own name, a descriptive use, a prior good-faith business. We assess the strength of a case honestly before filing, rather than assuming the mark settles it.
Can you handle domains across Europe, Latin America and Africa?
Yes. We handle UDRP matters before WIPO and other ICANN providers and EURid procedures for .eu directly, and coordinate correspondent counsel for country-code domains across the region. Because we treat domain strategy as part of trademark strategy, you keep a single point of contact for both across the Europe–Latin America–Africa corridor.
