Domain Name Dispute Resolution

Online Dispute Resolution:

The Domain Name Commission's Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform was first piloted in March 2022 as a free mediation tool to assist people in resolving disputes for both domain names and conflicted domain names. 

At the end of the six-month pilot, it was clear that Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) provided a digital pathway supporting people to mediate online, and where possible, settle without going to Expert Determination or court. 

We are now excited to launch Phase Two of our pilot by continuing to provide free meditation via Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) for domain name disputes until 30 June 2023. If online mediation isn't successful, we still offer a decision-making process for parties to engage with. However, we strongly recommend parties take up the benefit of mediation, or negotiation directly with the registrant of the domain name.

The type of domain name disputes that this service is designed to handle is about the ownership of a domain name. If you believe that someone else has a domain name and that you should be the registrant, then this is the service for you. 

Here are some common examples of domain name disputes:

• A newly established business has set up a website providing the same services as you, and their domain name is virtually the same as yours. You believe you are now losing business and customers.
• You failed to re-register your domain name, and now a competitor has it. You’d like to get it back.
• You purchased a business and understood the domain name was part of the agreement, however, this did not transfer to you.
• Your business partnership has fallen apart and you now cannot access your emails as the other person is the Registrant of the domain name.