How to submit a response

Submit a response using our online form

If a complaint is made against a domain name you are the registrant for, you can submit a response. Submitting a response is your opportunity to address matters raised in a dispute. 

You must submit your response within 15 working days of the date of the complaint. We’ll tell you the deadline for your response when we send the complaint. 

Use our online form to submit your response.

You don’t have to submit a response. However, if you do not, we may refer the dispute over the registration of your domain name to an expert for determination. If you haven’t provided a response, the expert will decide using only the information provided in the dispute. 

If you feel that your registration of the domain name is correct or fair, provide a response when you’re asked to. You won’t get another chance to submit a response.

How to write and submit a response

If you’re responding, the response argument section of the form is important. This is your only opportunity to share your side of the evidence with the expert.

How an expert may use your response argument

If your dispute is referred to an expert, they’ll determine the outcome of the dispute using the information you share in the response, and any documents you supply to support your case. You need to show that you have, for example:

• made legitimate non-commercial or fair use of the domain name
• been commonly known by the name or legitimately connected with a mark which is identical or similar to the domain name
• used or made demonstrable preparations to use the domain name or a domain name which is similar to the domain name for a genuine offering of goods or services.

To see other items to discuss, see paragraph 6 of the policy. 

Definitions of terms such as ‘rights in a name’ and ‘unfair registration’ are also provided in the policy, Section 3 of part A.

Format and documents for your response 

Keep to the length limit: Your response argument can be up to 2,000 words long. 

Write it offline first: We recommend you write your argument first in a Word document or another text editor, and save it. If you write it online and your internet connection is lost, you’ll also lose what you’ve written. 

Include any supporting documents: You can support your response with other documents, such as:

• letterhead and advertising material showing your use of the name
• birth or marriage certificates for personal names
• trademarks or designs registered with the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand or the Companies Offices.

You can send your other documents to us in hard copy – you do not have to attach them electronically to the response.

We also have the following resources that may be of benefit: 

Database of all previous Expert Decisions

List of selected Case Summaries of Expert Decisions

You must submit your response online. 

We cannot receive responses that are not submitted via our online form.

What happens after we receive a response?

We send the response to the person who submitted the complaint about the domain name. They will have an opportunity to submit a reply. 

Following that and the payment of fees, the dispute will proceed to Expert Determination.

Every time we send correspondence to you, we’ll send a copy to the responder. Similarly, all correspondence with you will be copied to the complainant. If we appoint an expert to determine the dispute, the expert receives copies of all correspondence sent during the process.