This guide is the policy map for domain disputes worldwide. If you already know which policy applies, go straight to the relevant section or the master table. If you are not sure, start with the quick answer and the decision framework.
Quick answer: how to identify the right policy in under a minute
There is no single global domain dispute policy. The extension determines the procedure. gTLDs — .com, .net, .org, and the new gTLDs — use the UDRP, with the URS available for clear-cut cases in new gTLDs. ccTLDs use their own policies: .uk uses the Nominet DRS; .au uses the auDRP; .ca uses the CDRP; .eu uses the .eu ADR; .in uses the INDRP; .cn uses the CNDRP; .br uses SACI-Adm; .us uses the usDRP. The elements look similar, but the bad-faith test, the deadlines, the remedies, and the costs differ — and those differences decide cases.
The master comparison table
| Policy | Scope | Bad faith test | Response deadline | Remedy | Provider fee (indicative) | Court window | Key structural feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UDRP | gTLDs; selected ccTLDs | Registered and used | 20 days + 4-day extension | Transfer or cancellation | US$1,300–1,500 single panel | 10 business days | The global baseline |
| URS | New gTLDs | Clear and convincing; no genuine issue of material fact | 14 days + 7-day extension | Suspension only | ~US$360–375 / €175 | Appeal within 14 days | Fast, narrow, no transfer |
| Nominet DRS | .uk family | Registered or used abusively | 15 working days | Transfer, suspension, cancellation | £200 summary; £750 full | Appeal £3,000, 10 working days | Free automatic mediation |
| auDRP | .au | Registered or used in bad faith | 20 calendar days | Transfer or cancellation | AUD $1,500 single; $3,000 three | Court | 10-page limits |
| CDRP | .ca | Registered in bad faith | 20 days | Transfer or cancellation | CAD $1,500 filing; $1,850 single; $3,000 three | Court | Canadian Presence Requirement; RDNH costs up to CAD $5,000 |
| .eu ADR | .eu, .ею, .ευ | No rights/legitimate interest or bad faith | 30 working days | Transfer or revocation | €700 discounted | 30 days | Article 21 “speculative and abusive” test |
| INDRP | .in, .Bharat | Registered or used in bad faith | Set by arbitrator (short) | Transfer or cancellation | INR 30,000 + GST | Delhi High Court | Arbitration under the 1996 Act; 5,000-word limit |
| CNDRP | .cn, .中国 | Registered or used in bad faith | 20 calendar days | Transfer or cancellation | CNY 8,000–16,000 (HKIAC) | 10 days | Three-year filing limit; Chinese language |
| SACI-Adm | .br | Stricter — direct knowledge at registration | 15 days | Transfer or cancellation | Fixed by provider | 15 days | Revelia default freezes the domain |
| usDRP | .us | Registered or used in bad faith | 20 days | Transfer or cancellation | ~US$1,300–1,500 single | Court | Nexus requirement; disjunctive test |
Sources and notes: UDRP Rules; URS Procedure; Nominet DRS Policy and fee schedule; auDRP and Resolution Institute Supplemental Rules; CDRP and CIIDRC fee schedule; .eu ADR Rules and EURid discount; INDRP Rules and fee schedule; CNDRP and HKIAC fee schedule; SACI-Adm Regulation; usDRP. Fees are indicative and change; confirm the current schedule before filing.
The policy changes the deadline, the remedy, and the evidence. We map the extension to the procedure before you file. Ask which policy applies →
Why the policy matters more than the merits
“Registered and used” vs “registered or used”
This is the single most consequential difference in the matrix. The UDRP requires bad faith in both registration and use. The Nominet DRS, auDRP, CNDRP, INDRP, and usDRP use a disjunctive test: bad faith in registration or use is enough. The CDRP focuses on bad faith at registration. The .eu ADR asks whether the registration was speculative or abusive, with a disjunctive bad-faith limb.
The practical effect: a domain registered innocently but later used to target the complainant may be recoverable under the DRS, auDRP, CNDRP, INDRP, or usDRP, but not under the UDRP. A domain registered in bad faith but not yet used may satisfy the CNDRP and auDRP, but not the UDRP.
The three-year limit
The CNDRP does not accept a complaint if the domain has been registered for three years or more. No other major policy has this jurisdictional bar. A complainant with a strong case against an old .cn domain must go to court instead.
Nexus and presence requirements
The usDRP requires the registrant to have a US Nexus — citizenship, permanent residence, a US entity, or a bona fide US presence. The CDRP requires the complainant to meet the Canadian Presence Requirements to hold a .ca domain and receive a transfer. No equivalent threshold exists under the UDRP. These requirements can defeat a case on the merits before the bad-faith analysis begins.
Arbitration vs administrative panel
The INDRP is arbitration under the Indian Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The award can be challenged in the Delhi High Court. The other procedures are administrative panel processes, with court challenges available but not framed as arbitral appeals. The INDRP’s arbitration framework changes the procedure, the evidence rules, and the enforcement path.
A UDRP win does not transfer a ccTLD. We coordinate parallel filings across extensions on one timeline. Talk to counsel →
The gTLD layer: UDRP and URS
UDRP — the default for generic extensions
The Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy applies to .com, .net, .org, and the new gTLDs, plus a small number of ccTLDs that adopted it. It requires the complainant to prove confusing similarity, no legitimate interest, and bad-faith registration and use. The remedy is transfer or cancellation. There are no damages. The response window is 20 days, plus a 4-day automatic extension. The filing fee at WIPO is US$1,500 for a single panelist and up to five domains; Forum is about US$1,300.
URS — suspension only, for new gTLDs
The Uniform Rapid Suspension system applies to new gTLDs. It requires clear and convincing evidence of the three elements, with no genuine issue of material fact. The remedy is suspension of the domain for the remainder of its registration term — not transfer. The response window is 14 days, with a possible 7-day extension. Filing fees start at about US$360–375 at Forum and ADNDRC, and €175 at MFSD. The process can be resolved in weeks.
When URS is available and when it is not
The URS is available for new gTLDs from the 2012 round and a small number of legacy adopters. It is not available for .com, .net, or .org. If you need the domain, the UDRP is the right route. If suspension is enough and the case is clear-cut, the URS is faster and cheaper.
URS suspends; UDRP transfers; court awards damages. Match the remedy to the harm. Start a procedure assessment →
The ccTLD matrix
.uk — Nominet DRS
The Nominet DRS applies to .uk, .co.uk, .org.uk, .me.uk, .ltd.uk, .plc.uk, and .net.uk. The test is Rights + Abusive Registration, with a “registered or used” structure. The response window is 15 working days; the response is limited to 2,000 words. Mediation is free and automatic once a response is filed. A summary decision costs £200; a full decision costs £750; an appeal costs £3,000 and must be lodged within 10 working days. Since 7 July 2026, WIPO administers new DRS cases; fees are no longer subject to VAT.
.au — auDRP
The auDRP applies to .au domains, including .com.au, .net.au, and .au direct registrations. The test uses “registered or used in bad faith.” The response window is 20 calendar days; complaints and responses are limited to 10 pages, excluding annexes. Fees are AUD $1,500 for a single-member panel and AUD $3,000 for three members. The .au direct namespace and auDA eligibility rules add a jurisdiction-specific layer.
.ca — CDRP
The CDRP applies to .ca domains. The bad-faith test focuses on registration. The Canadian Presence Requirement is a threshold: a complainant must be eligible to hold a .ca domain, either through Canadian citizenship, residence, a Canadian entity, or a registered Canadian trademark. The response window is 20 days. Contested cases go to three-member panels, paid for by the complainant. The CDRP has the strongest RDNH remedy: costs up to CAD $5,000. Recent practice has tightened the legitimate-interest element: a default does not automatically prove the absence of a legitimate interest; the complainant must build an affirmative case.
.eu — .eu ADR
The .eu ADR applies to .eu, .ею, and .ευ. The legal basis is Article 21 of Regulation 874/2004. The test is speculative or abusive: registered without rights or legitimate interests or registered/used in bad faith. The response window is 30 working days. EURid’s €600 discount reduces the single-member fee to €700 for 1–5 domains. The court window is 30 days after notification.
.in — INDRP
The INDRP applies to .in and .Bharat domains. It is arbitration under the 1996 Act, not an administrative panel. The test uses “registered or used in bad faith.” The fee is INR 30,000 + GST (INR 10,000 to the Registry and INR 20,000 to the arbitrator). Pleadings are limited to 5,000 words; annexures to 100 pages. The arbitrator must issue an award within 60 days, extendable by 30 days. Awards can be challenged in the Delhi High Court; the Microsoft exceltotally.in decision was set aside for insufficient bad-faith analysis, while the Oracle exadata.in award was upheld as a plausible factual conclusion.
.cn — CNDRP
The CNDRP applies to .cn and .中国. The test protects a “name or mark in which the complainant has civil rights” and uses “registered or used in bad faith.” The three-year limit is a jurisdictional bar: a complaint is not accepted if the domain has been registered for three years or more. The response window is 20 calendar days; the panel decides within 14 days of constitution; the decision is enforced after 10 days unless a court or arbitration body has accepted the dispute. Proceedings default to Chinese. Providers include CIETAC, HKIAC, WIPO, and ADNDRC; HKIAC fees are CNY 8,000–16,000 for a single panelist.
.br — SACI-Adm
SACI-Adm applies to .br domains, administered by NIC.br / Registro.br. The bad-faith standard has tightened: panels require direct evidence of knowledge at registration, not merely a parked page or later redirect. The response window is 15 days. If the respondent defaults (revelia), NIC.br contacts the registrant; if there is no response within 24 hours, the domain is frozen (suspended) until the procedure concludes. The average timeline is about 74 days. The court window is 15 days.
.us — usDRP
The usDRP applies to .us. It has a Nexus requirement for registrants and a disjunctive bad-faith test. The response window is 20 days. A default is not an automatic transfer, but the panel proceeds on the complaint record alone. A parallel .com registration requires a separate UDRP filing.
Ten policies, one strategic question: which one fits your facts? We map the extension, the remedy, and the evidence before you commit. Ask us which policy applies →
The elements compared
Confusing similarity
All ten procedures apply a low threshold for confusing similarity. The gTLD or ccTLD suffix is disregarded. Small additions — hyphens, letters, generic words — usually do not avoid similarity. The differences are at the margins: the CNDRP refers to a “name or mark in which the complainant has civil rights,” which is broader than a trademark; the CDRP refers to a “mark” in which the complainant has rights.
Rights or legitimate interests
The safe harbours are broadly similar: bona fide use before notice, being commonly known by the domain, and legitimate noncommercial or fair use. The differences are in the burden and the evidence. The CDRP has tightened its legitimate-interest analysis, requiring affirmative evidence even where the registrant defaults. The CNDRP protects civil rights, not just trademark rights.
Bad faith / abusive registration
| Policy | Test | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| UDRP | Registered and used in bad faith | The conjunctive test can defeat a complainant where one limb fails |
| URS | Clear and convincing; no genuine issue of material fact | Only clear-cut cases succeed |
| Nominet DRS | Registered or used abusively | Later unfair use is actionable |
| auDRP | Registered or used in bad faith | Later bad-faith use is actionable |
| CDRP | Registered in bad faith | Focus on knowledge at registration |
| .eu ADR | No rights/legitimate interest or bad faith | The “or” broadens the route |
| INDRP | Registered or used in bad faith | The “or” broadens the route |
| CNDRP | Registered or used in bad faith | The “or” broadens the route |
| SACI-Adm | Stricter: direct knowledge at registration | Circumstantial evidence may fail |
| usDRP | Registered or used in bad faith | The “or” broadens the route |
The disjunctive vs conjunctive split
The UDRP is the only major procedure that requires both bad-faith registration and bad-faith use. The ccTLD policies — and the usDRP — have moved to a disjunctive test, which is more favourable to complainants in later-use cases. The CDRP is the outlier in the other direction: it focuses on registration bad faith, which protects registrants who registered in good faith but later used the domain aggressively. The SACI-Adm has tightened the bad-faith standard further, requiring direct evidence of knowledge.
The same domain, the same mark, a different policy — and a different outcome. We test the facts against the applicable test before you file. Get a policy assessment →
Deadlines, word limits and panel structures
| Policy | Response deadline | Word/page limit | Panel |
|---|---|---|---|
| UDRP | 20 days + 4-day extension | 5,000 words (WIPO) | Single or three; respondent may elect three and pay half the difference |
| URS | 14 days + 7-day extension | Provider-specific | Single examiner |
| Nominet DRS | 15 working days | 2,000 words | Single expert; three-expert appeal |
| auDRP | 20 calendar days | 10 pages | Single or three; complainant elects and pays |
| CDRP | 20 days | Provider-specific | Three-member panel in contested cases; single if default |
| .eu ADR | 30 working days | Provider-specific | Single or three |
| INDRP | Set by arbitrator | 5,000 words; 100 pages annexures | Sole arbitrator |
| CNDRP | 20 calendar days | Provider-specific | Single or three |
| SACI-Adm | 15 days | Provider-specific | One or three experts |
| usDRP | 20 days | Provider-specific | Single or three |
The Nominet DRS and auDRP have the tightest word/page limits. The CDRP uses three-member panels in contested cases, which affects cost and deliberation. The INDRP is arbitration, with a 60-day award clock. The CNDRP has the fastest panel decision timeline — 14 days after constitution — but the three-year limit filters older domains.
Remedies compared: transfer, cancellation, suspension, damages
| Policy | Transfer | Cancellation | Suspension | Damages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UDRP | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| URS | No | No | Yes | No |
| Nominet DRS | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| auDRP | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| CDRP | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| .eu ADR | Yes | Revocation | No | No |
| INDRP | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| CNDRP | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| SACI-Adm | Yes | Yes | Freezing on default | No |
| usDRP | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Court (ACPA) | Yes | Yes | Possible injunction | US$1,000–100,000 statutory |
The URS is the only administrative procedure that offers suspension without transfer. The Nominet DRS can order suspension as well as transfer or cancellation. The SACI-Adm freezes the domain on default as a procedural step, not as a final remedy. Damages are available only in court — under the ACPA in the US, or under local law elsewhere.
Costs compared: provider fees and legal fees
| Policy | Provider fee (indicative) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| UDRP | US$1,300–1,500 single; US$2,600–4,000 three | WIPO, Forum, ADNDRC, CAC, CIIDRC |
| URS | ~US$360–375; €175 | Forum, ADNDRC, MFSD |
| Nominet DRS | £200 summary; £750 full; £3,000 appeal | Free mediation |
| auDRP | AUD $1,500 single; $3,000 three | Resolution Institute, WIPO |
| CDRP | CAD $1,500 filing; $1,850 single; $3,000 three | CIIDRC, Resolution Canada |
| .eu ADR | €700 discounted | CAC, WIPO |
| INDRP | INR 30,000 + GST | NIXI |
| CNDRP | CNY 8,000–16,000 single; 14,000–24,000 three | CIETAC, HKIAC, WIPO, ADNDRC |
| SACI-Adm | Fixed by provider | CASD-ND, WIPO |
| usDRP | ~US$1,300–1,500 single | WIPO, Forum |
The .eu ADR is currently the cheapest major administrative procedure at €700 for a single panelist and up to five domains. The URS is cheaper still for suspension cases. The INDRP is competitively priced in INR but requires Indian arbitration practice. The Nominet DRS summary decision at £200 is the lowest-cost route to a binding outcome in a default case.
Appeals and court windows compared
| Policy | Internal appeal | Court window |
|---|---|---|
| UDRP | None | 10 business days |
| URS | 14 days; de novo | — |
| Nominet DRS | Three-expert panel, 10 working days, £3,000 | — |
| auDRP | None | Court |
| CDRP | None | Court |
| .eu ADR | None | 30 days |
| INDRP | None | Delhi High Court under the 1996 Act |
| CNDRP | None | 10 days |
| SACI-Adm | None | 15 days |
| usDRP | None | Court |
The URS is the only procedure with a de novo appeal. The Nominet DRS has a dedicated three-expert appeal. The INDRP is unique in that the challenge is an arbitral award challenge in the Delhi High Court, not a court appeal from an administrative decision.
Default consequences compared
| Policy | Default consequence |
|---|---|
| UDRP | Panel decides on the complaint; adverse inferences; default almost always favours the complainant |
| URS | Examiner proceeds on the record; de novo review available within six months |
| Nominet DRS | Summary decision for £200; no written reasons; outcome recorded |
| auDRP | Panel decides on the complaint; adverse inferences |
| CDRP | Panel still requires affirmative legitimate-interest evidence; default does not automatically prove no legitimate interest |
| .eu ADR | Panel decides on the complaint |
| INDRP | Ex parte award; binds the registrant |
| CNDRP | Panel proceeds on the complaint but still applies the three-element test |
| SACI-Adm | Revelia; NIC.br contacts the registrant; domain frozen if no response within 24 hours |
| usDRP | Panel decides on the complaint; default is not an automatic transfer |
The Nominet DRS has the most structured default route: a summary decision with a lower fee and no full written reasons. The SACI-Adm has the most aggressive default mechanism: freezing the domain after 24 hours. The CDRP is the outlier in the other direction: it requires the complainant to build an affirmative case even when the registrant defaults.
Default is not a strategy. The procedure you choose determines how much silence costs you. We build the response plan before the clock runs out. Book a deadline review →
The “wrong policy” problem
Filing under the wrong policy
Filing a UDRP complaint against a .uk domain, or an INDRP complaint against a .com, will be dismissed at the compliance stage. The filing fee may be lost, and the clock under the correct policy continues to run. Complainants should confirm the policy before drafting.
Parallel proceedings across extensions
A registrant who holds both the .com and the .uk versions of a mark requires two separate proceedings — a UDRP for the .com and a Nominet DRS for the .uk. A UDRP win does not transfer the ccTLD. The same applies to .au, .ca, .eu, .in, .cn, .br, and .us. Coordinating parallel filings on one evidence record is practical, but each proceeding has its own forms, fees, and deadlines.
Choosing the forum within a policy
The UDRP has multiple providers — WIPO, Forum, ADNDRC, CAC, and CIIDRC. Fees, case management, and panel rosters differ. The CNDRP has four providers — CIETAC, HKIAC, WIPO, and ADNDRC. The choice of provider can affect cost, speed, and the composition of the panel. Forum shopping within a policy is permitted, but it should be based on the case, not on a hope of a more favourable panel.
Decision framework: five questions to choose the route
- What is the extension? gTLD → UDRP or URS. ccTLD → the relevant policy.
- Do you need transfer or is suspension enough? Suspension only → URS (new gTLDs). Transfer → UDRP or ccTLD.
- What is the bad-faith theory? Registration and use → UDRP. Registration or use → DRS, auDRP, CNDRP, INDRP, usDRP. Registration only → CDRP. Direct knowledge → SACI-Adm.
- Are you eligible to hold the domain?
.us→ Nexus..ca→ CPR..cn→ within three years. - Do you need damages or an injunction? → Court, not an administrative procedure.
Five questions, one route. We run the framework against the facts and the evidence before you commit. Get a policy assessment →
Scenarios and recommended routes
| Scenario | Recommended route | Why |
|---|---|---|
.com typosquat with phishing | UDRP | Transfer, not suspension; technical evidence supports bad faith |
| New gTLD, clear-cut phishing, suspension enough | URS | Faster and cheaper; suspension addresses the harm |
.co.uk domain registered before the mark, later used to divert | Nominet DRS | “Registered or used” catches later abusive use; free mediation |
.com.au domain, 10-page limit, need transfer | auDRP | Australian-specific policy; 20-day response |
.ca domain, complainant has a Canadian trademark | CDRP | CPR eligibility satisfied; RDNH costs available |
.eu domain, cost-sensitive, disjunctive bad faith | .eu ADR | €700 discounted fee; “speculative or abusive” test |
.in domain, need a reasoned award | INDRP | Arbitration; 60-day award; Delhi HC challenge route |
.cn domain registered two years ago | CNDRP | Within the three-year limit; 20-day response |
.br domain, direct evidence of knowledge at registration | SACI-Adm | Stricter standard met; revelia freezes the domain |
.us domain, registrant lacks Nexus | usDRP | Nexus evidence supports the legitimate-interest and bad-faith analysis |
| Need damages for a fraud operation | Court (ACPA or local) | Administrative procedures cannot award damages |
How counsel.domains can help
If you are not sure which policy applies, we map the extension and the facts to the procedure before you commit.
If the case spans multiple extensions, we coordinate UDRP, URS, and ccTLD filings on one evidence record and one timeline.
If you have received a complaint under a policy you do not know, we review the deadline, the test, and the response strategy for that specific procedure.
counsel.domains Domain names, worldwide. Ask which policy applies → · [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 WIPO, ICANN, Forum, Nominet, auDA, CIRA, EURid, NIXI, CNNIC, NIC.br, or any registry or dispute-resolution provider.