This guide is for complainants and respondents in Brazilian domain disputes. If you have received a SACI-Adm notice, go straight to the response section — the deadline is 15 days. If you are planning a complaint, read the “stricter bad-faith standard” section first; the evidentiary floor has risen.
Quick answer: what SACI-Adm is and what it can do
SACI-Adm is the administrative procedure for resolving disputes over .br domain names, administered by NIC.br (the Brazilian Network Information Center) through Registro.br. A complainant must prove rights in a name or mark, bad faith, and the absence of a legitimate interest. The bad-faith standard has recently tightened: panels now require direct evidence that the registrant knew of the complainant’s mark at the time of registration, not merely circumstantial evidence such as a parked page. The respondent has 15 days to file a response. The average timeline is about 74 days from filing to decision. The remedy is transfer or cancellation. The decision is implemented after 15 days unless a court action is filed. Fees are borne by the complainant and are fixed by the provider.
Key facts at a glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Procedure | SACI-Adm (Sistema Administrativo de Conflitos de Internet relativos a nomes de domínios sob o ".br") |
| Scope | .br domain names (all second-level names) |
| Administrator | NIC.br / Registro.br |
| Test | Rights + bad faith + no legitimate interest |
| Bad-faith standard | Stricter: direct evidence of knowledge at registration |
| Response deadline | 15 days |
| Providers | CASD-ND (ABPI); WIPO |
| Fees | Borne by the complainant; fixed by the provider |
| Average timeline | 74 days from filing to decision |
| Court window | 15 days after decision |
| Remedy | Transfer or cancellation; no damages |
| Default | Revelia; domain may be frozen |
What is SACI-Adm?
NIC.br and the .br registry
The .br country-code top-level domain is managed by NIC.br, through Registro.br. SACI-Adm was instituted in October 2010 by the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee (CGI.br) and implemented by NIC.br as an alternative dispute-resolution mechanism for .br domain names.
SACI-Adm is incorporated into the domain registration agreement. By registering a .br domain, the registrant agrees to participate in the procedure if a complainant files.
The SACI-Adm regulation
The procedure is governed by the SACI-Adm Regulation and the rules of the accredited dispute-resolution institutions. The regulation sets out the elements, the deadlines, the fees, and the enforcement mechanism.
Providers: CASD-ND and WIPO
The CASD-ND (Câmara de Solução de Disputas Relativas a Nomes de Domínio) of ABPI (Associação Brasileira da Propriedade Intelectual) is the principal domestic provider. WIPO also administers SACI-Adm cases through its Arbitration and Mediation Center, with its own SACI-Adm Rules and fee schedule.
.br dispute? The bad-faith standard tightened and the response window is 15 days. We handle SACI-Adm cases through CASD-ND and WIPO. Book a SACI-Adm review →
The SACI-Adm legal test
Rights in the name or mark
The complainant must have rights in a name or mark that is identical or similar enough to create confusion with the domain. The rights can be a registered trademark (Brazilian or foreign), a trade name, or another distinctive sign. A Brazilian trademark registration strengthens the claim considerably; a foreign mark is not disqualifying but places a heavier burden on the complainant to show cross-border reach.
Bad faith
The complainant must prove that the domain was registered in bad faith. This is the element that has recently become more demanding. Panels now require direct evidence that the registrant knew of the complainant’s mark at the time of registration, or that the registration was made with intent to exploit the mark.
Lack of legitimate interest
The complainant must show that the registrant has no legitimate interest in the domain. The respondent can rebut this by showing bona fide use, being commonly known by the name, or fair use.
SACI-Adm is not a UDRP clone. The bad-faith standard is stricter, and the procedure is Brazil-specific. Ask us to assess your case →
The stricter bad-faith standard: what changed
Direct knowledge at registration
Quick answer: SACI-Adm panels have tightened the bad-faith element. Circumstantial evidence — such as a parked page or a later redirect to a competitor — is no longer enough on its own. Complainants must produce direct indicators that the registrant knew of the mark at the time of registration.
This shift is the most important recent development in .br practice. Older filing strategies that relied on inferences from parking or redirects may now fail. The complainant must build a record that ties the registrant’s conduct to awareness of the mark before or at registration.
Timing and prominence
Panels are examining the timing of registration relative to the complainant’s first use or registration of the mark. They ask whether the mark was sufficiently prominent in Brazil at the registration date to support an inference of intent. A mark that was not used or known in Brazil at the relevant date is a weak basis for a bad-faith claim.
Prior conduct and pattern
Panels are placing greater weight on the registrant’s prior conduct — for example, a pattern of abusive registrations. A documented pattern can elevate the bad-faith finding; a clean record can diminish it.
Evidence that meets the new standard
Complainants should gather:
- WHOIS/RDDS records and historical DNS data.
- Screenshots of the domain’s use at or shortly after registration.
- Correspondence showing the registrant’s awareness of the mark.
- Evidence of the mark’s prominence in Brazil at the registration date.
- Evidence of a pattern of similar registrations by the same registrant.
- A timeline that begins at the registration date, not at the date of the complaint.
Evidence of knowledge at registration is now critical. We assess the record and identify the gaps before you file. Get an evidence review →
SACI-Adm vs UDRP: the critical differences
| Feature | SACI-Adm | UDRP |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | .br only | gTLDs and selected ccTLDs |
| Administrator | NIC.br / Registro.br | ICANN-accredited providers |
| Response deadline | 15 days | 20 days + 4-day extension |
| Bad-faith standard | Stricter: direct evidence of knowledge at registration | Balance of probabilities; circumstantial evidence accepted |
| Fees | Borne by complainant; fixed by provider | US$1,300–1,500 (WIPO/Forum) |
| Timeline | 74 days average | About two months |
| Court window | 15 days | 10 business days |
| Default | Revelia; domain may be frozen | Panel decides on the record |
| Remedy | Transfer or cancellation | Transfer or cancellation |
Brazil-specific procedure
SACI-Adm is a Brazilian administrative procedure, not an ICANN policy. A UDRP win does not transfer a .br domain. A complainant who secures a .com typosquat through WIPO must bring a separate SACI-Adm complaint to address the parallel .br registration.
15-day response
The response window is shorter than the UDRP’s. The respondent must act quickly.
Fees borne by the complainant
The complainant pays the provider’s fees. The amount is fixed by the provider and is not recoverable from the respondent.
The 15-day court window
After the decision, NIC.br waits 15 days for a court action. If a party files a court case within that window, NIC.br does not implement the decision until the court case is resolved.
A UDRP win does not transfer a .br domain. SACI-Adm is a separate proceeding with its own record and its own stricter standard. Ask us to coordinate the strategy →
Standing: who can file
Brazilian trademark rights
A Brazilian trademark registration is the strongest basis for standing. It establishes rights that are recognised in Brazil and supports the inference that the registrant should have known of the mark.
Foreign marks and cross-border reach
A foreign trademark registration is not automatically disqualifying, but it places a heavier burden on the complainant. The complainant must show that the mark had cross-border reach and was known in Brazil at the relevant date. Evidence includes press coverage, sales data, and marketing in Brazil.
Use in Brazil
Demonstrable use of the mark in Brazil strengthens the claim. Even without a Brazilian registration, a complainant who has used the mark in Brazil may have enforceable rights.
Choosing a SACI-Adm provider
CASD-ND (ABPI)
The CASD-ND is the principal domestic provider. It administers cases under the SACI-Adm Regulation and its own rules. The fees are fixed by the provider.
WIPO
WIPO administers SACI-Adm cases under its SACI-Adm Rules. Its fee schedule is available on the WIPO website. WIPO is a good choice for international complainants who want a familiar case-management process.
Fees
The fees are borne by the complainant. The exact amount is fixed by the provider and depends on the number of domains and the panel composition. Complainants should confirm the current schedule before filing.
Filing a SACI-Adm complaint
Complaint contents
A SACI-Adm complaint must include:
- The complainant’s details and authorised representative.
- The disputed domain name(s).
- The rights relied on.
- The bad-faith analysis, with direct evidence of knowledge at registration.
- The lack of legitimate interest.
- The remedy sought: transfer or cancellation.
- The certification.
Evidence and the registration-date timeline
The evidence must be built around the registration date. Panels are looking backward to what the registrant knew or should have known at that time. A timeline that begins at registration is more persuasive than evidence of current conduct alone.
Fees
The complainant pays the provider’s fee. The fee is not recoverable from the respondent.
The SACI-Adm response: 15 days
The deadline
The respondent has 15 days from receipt of the notice to file a response. The response is filed with the provider.
Default (revelia) and the freezing of the domain
If the respondent does not file a response, revelia (default) is configured. The Secretariat notifies NIC.br, which has three days to contact the registrant through the email addresses in the domain registration. If the registrant does not respond within 24 hours, the domain is frozen (suspended). If the registrant later responds, the domain is unfrozen and the procedure continues.
Building a response
A strong SACI-Adm response focuses on:
- Legitimate interest: bona fide use, commonly known, fair use.
- No bad faith: priority, genuine reason for the name, no knowledge of the mark at registration.
- The stricter standard: the complainant’s evidence does not meet the direct-knowledge threshold.
- Procedural issues: deficiencies in the complaint, lack of standing, late filing.
Received a SACI-Adm notice? You have 15 days. We review the complaint and build a response around the stricter bad-faith standard. Book a deadline review →
The panel and the decision
One or three experts
The panel consists of one or three experts, chosen from the provider’s list. The complainant elects the panel composition in the complaint.
The merits decision
The panel decides on the written record. The decision addresses the three elements and the remedy.
Transfer or cancellation
The panel can order transfer or cancellation. There are no damages.
Enforcement and the 15-day court window
After the decision, NIC.br waits 15 days (or 15 business days, depending on the regulation) for a court action. If a party files a court case within that window, NIC.br does not implement the decision until the court case is resolved. If no court action is filed, the transfer or cancellation is implemented.
Costs and timeline
| Stage | Typical duration |
|---|---|
| Complaint and processing | Days |
| Response | 15 days |
| Panel appointment and decision | Weeks |
| Overall average | 74 days |
| Court window | 15 days |
| Cost item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Provider fee | Fixed by CASD-ND or WIPO; borne by complainant |
| Legal fees | Additional |
Illustrative SACI-Adm themes and decisions
ArcelorMittal v. M. d. A. P. (DBR2025-0027)
A WIPO SACI-Adm case. The complaint was filed and processed under the SACI-Adm Regulation and the WIPO SACI-Adm Rules. The decision illustrates the procedural path: complaint, formal compliance, notification, response, panel, decision.
Michelin v. M. Z. G. (DBR2025-0025)
Another WIPO SACI-Adm case, following the same procedural structure. The panel applied the SACI-Adm elements and the stricter bad-faith standard.
Caterpillar Inc. v. M. R. S. (DBR2026-0001)
Filed in January 2026. The decision illustrates the current practice: the complainant must demonstrate the elements under the SACI-Adm Regulation, including the bad-faith standard.
Rejection of complaints
Recent decisions (for example, ABPI ND 202601) show that panels will reject complaints where the evidence does not meet the stricter bad-faith standard. A parked page or a later redirect, without direct evidence of knowledge at registration, may not be enough.
Lesson: The evidentiary floor has risen. Complainants should not file on circumstantial evidence alone.
Complainant checklist
- Rights: Brazilian trademark, foreign mark with cross-border reach, or use in Brazil.
- Bad faith: Direct evidence of knowledge at registration.
- No legitimate interest: Prima facie case with affirmative evidence.
- Timeline: Evidence built around the registration date.
- Provider: CASD-ND or WIPO; fee ready.
- Parallel strategy: Consider a UDRP filing for any co-held gTLD.
- Court window: 15 days after decision.
Ready to file a SACI-Adm complaint? We test the stricter bad-faith standard before you commit. Start a SACI-Adm assessment →
Respondent checklist
- Deadline: 15 days from receipt of the notice.
- Legitimate interest: Bona fide use, commonly known, fair use.
- No bad faith: Priority, genuine reason, no knowledge at registration.
- Default risk: Revelia leads to the domain being frozen.
- Court window: 15 days if you lose.
- File on time. Do not default.
Received a SACI-Adm notice? Do not ignore it. Book a deadline review →
How counsel.domains can help
If you are planning a SACI-Adm complaint, we test the stricter bad-faith standard and build the registration-date timeline before you file.
If you have received a SACI-Adm notice, we review the 15-day deadline, build a response, and protect against revelia.
If the same registrant holds a .com or another gTLD version, we coordinate the UDRP and SACI-Adm filings as a single strategy.
counsel.domains Domain name disputes, worldwide. Talk to counsel about a .br dispute → · [email protected]
Disclaimer: This website provides general information about domain name dispute resolution. It is not legal advice and does not create a professional relationship. Procedures and fees change; check the relevant policy and provider before acting. counsel.domains is not affiliated with NIC.br, Registro.br, CASD-ND, ABPI, WIPO, or any registry or dispute-resolution provider.