This page is for the domain name registrants whose ownership is being challenged.
If you have received a Notice from us advising that your domain name ownership is being challenged, it means that you are a Respondent in a mandatory administrative proceeding under the Uniform Domain-Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP). Please carefully read the information below.
Under UDRP Rule 5 (a) your proper response should be submitted within 20 calendar days of the administrative proceeding. The Notice you received from us indicates the exact date by which your response should be submitted. You can request a time extension for filing your response by Contacting Us. Please include your file number indicated in the Notice. You can file a Response by yourself, or you may wish to consult legal counsel for assistance.
You are not required to submit any payment for defending your ownership over the disputed domain name. The Complainant bears the duty to pay all fees associated with the administrative proceeding. However, if the Complainant elects a single-member Panel, and you elect a three-member Panel, you will be prompted to submit half of the required payment towards the three-member Panel fee.
If you fail to submit a response within the due date, the appointed Panel will render its decision in the absence of your response. Although the Panel can accept a late-filed response under exceptional circumstances, the Panel is under no obligation to do so.
Your response should address all the statements and allegations contained in the complaint and should include reasons for you to retain registration and use of the disputed domain name.
Reverse Domain Name Hijacking (RDNH) – In accordance with Rule 15 (e),“If after considering the submissions, the panel finds that the complaint was brought in bad faith, for example, in an attempt at reverse domain name hijacking, or was brought primarily to harass the domain-name holder, the panel shall declare in its decision that the complaint was brought in bad faith and constitutes an abuse of the administrative proceeding.” Although a finding of RDNH does not carry a financial penalty, it will go on the public record.
The Response form will allow you to navigate between the UDRP, the Rules for UDRP and the CIIDRC Supplemental Rules. The Response form is designed to limit the maximum number of words in your Response to 5,000 words in order to comply with UDRP Rule 5(c)(i) and CIIDRC’s Supplemental Rule 13.
There are two ways to submit a Response:
- through CIIDRC’s online platform. You will be able to submit your response by logging in using the login and temporary password you receive from us. As soon as you have successfully logged in, please immediately create a new password.
- download and fill out the UDRP Response form (English), French, or Espanol then return it via email to resolution@ciidrc.org. A Response must be submitted in searchable PDF format.
Once you submit your completed Response form via our online platform or by email, a confirmation will be sent to your email address. CIIDRC will then proceed with the appointment of a Panel. The appointed Panel will have 14 days to render a decision. Please visit our UDRP process page.
If a Panel renders a decision to transfer or cancel the disputed domain name, you will have 10 days to file an appeal in court.
If you have any questions, please contact us. We are here to help (but will not provide legal advice). You may represent yourself or seek the assistance of legal counsel to represent you in the UDRP administrative proceeding.