This guide is for complainants and respondents in .eu domain disputes. If you have received a .eu ADR notice, go straight to the response section — the deadline is 30 working days. If you are unsure whether the .eu ADR applies, start with the comparison against the UDRP.
Quick answer: what the .eu ADR is and what it can do
The .eu Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) procedure is the administrative mechanism for resolving disputes over .eu domain names. A complainant must show that the domain is speculative or abusive — registered without rights or legitimate interests, or registered or used in bad faith. The response deadline is 30 working days from the notification of the proceeding. EURid is offering a EUR 600 discount throughout 2026, reducing the standard single-member panel fee from EUR 1,300 to EUR 700. The remedy is transfer or revocation of the domain. The decision is binding unless court proceedings are initiated within 30 calendar days of notification.
Key facts at a glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Policy | .eu ADR Rules, implementing Article 21 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 874/2004 |
| Scope | .eu, .ею (Cyrillic), .ευ (Greek) |
| Test | Speculative or abusive registration: no rights/legitimate interest or bad faith |
| Response deadline | 30 working days from notification |
| Fees | EUR 700 (discounted from EUR 1,300) for 1–5 domains, single-member panel |
| Providers | Czech Arbitration Court (CAC); WIPO |
| Remedy | Transfer or revocation; no damages |
| Court window | 30 calendar days after notification |
| Typical timeline | 2–3 months from filing to decision |
| Standing | Rights in a name or mark; EEA nexus for some complainants |
What is the .eu ADR?
EURid and the .eu registry
The .eu country-code top-level domain is managed by EURid, the European Registry for Internet Domains. EURid accredits registrars and maintains the registry database. The .eu namespace also includes the Cyrillic .ею and Greek .ευ equivalents.
The ADR procedure is administered by approved providers — primarily the Czech Arbitration Court (CAC) and WIPO — under the .eu ADR Rules.
The legal basis: Article 21 of Regulation 874/2004
The .eu ADR is grounded in Commission Regulation (EC) No 874/2004, which lays down public policy rules for the implementation and functions of the .eu TLD. Article 21 governs speculative and abusive registrations.
Article 21 provides that a domain name is speculative and abusive if:
- it is registered without rights or legitimate interests in the name; or
- it has been registered or is being used in bad faith.
The regulation lists non-exhaustive bad-faith circumstances, including:
- Registration primarily for the purpose of selling, renting, or transferring the domain to the complainant or a public body.
- Registration to prevent the owner of a protected name from reflecting it in a corresponding domain.
- Registration primarily to disrupt a competitor’s professional or business activity.
- Intentional use of the domain to attract internet users for commercial gain by creating confusion with a protected name.
The ADR providers: CAC and WIPO
The Czech Arbitration Court is the principal .eu ADR provider. Its online platform handles filing, fee payment, case management, and decision publication. WIPO also administers .eu ADR cases and publishes a model response and fee schedule.
The CAC’s procedure is set out in the ADR Rules and the Supplemental ADR Rules. The language of the proceeding is an official EU language, usually the language of the registration agreement.
.eu dispute? The fee is EUR 700 and the response window is 30 working days. We handle .eu ADR cases through CAC and WIPO. Book an ADR review →
The .eu ADR legal test: speculative and abusive registration
The registered without rights or legitimate interest limb
The first limb asks whether the domain was registered without rights or legitimate interests in the name. This is assessed at the time of registration, and it does not require proof of bad faith. A registrant who registers a domain it has no connection to — no trademark, no business name, no genuine use, no preparations — may satisfy this limb even if it did not act maliciously.
The bad faith limb
The second limb asks whether the domain was registered or used in bad faith. The “or” is disjunctive: bad faith at registration or bad faith in use is sufficient. This differs from the UDRP’s conjunctive “registered and used” test.
Bad faith may be demonstrated by the circumstances listed in Article 21(3), including:
- An offer to sell, rent, or transfer the domain for a price above documented out-of-pocket costs.
- A pattern of blocking registrations.
- Registration to disrupt a competitor.
- Intentional use to attract internet users for commercial gain through confusion.
Bad faith at renewal
.eu ADR panels have also found that bad faith can be determined at renewal, not only at initial registration. The renewal applicant warrants that it “will not knowingly use the name in violation of any applicable laws or regulations.” A registrant who renews a domain with knowledge of the complainant’s rights may be found to have acted in bad faith at renewal.
The non-exhaustive circumstances
The Article 21(3) list is non-exhaustive. Panels also consider:
- The respondent’s knowledge of the complainant’s mark.
- The nature of the domain (typosquatting, impersonation, phishing).
- The respondent’s use of privacy services.
- False contact details.
- The overall commercial context.
.eu is not the UDRP. The “speculative and abusive” test is different, and the “or” matters. Ask us to assess your case →
.eu ADR vs UDRP: the critical differences
| Feature | .eu ADR | UDRP |
|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | Article 21, Regulation 874/2004 | ICANN UDRP |
| Test | Speculative or abusive: no rights/legitimate interest or bad faith | Three elements, including registered and used in bad faith |
| Response deadline | 30 working days | 20 days + 4-day extension |
| Fees | EUR 700 (discounted from EUR 1,300) for 1–5 domains, single panel | US$1,500 single panel (WIPO, 1–5 domains) |
| Providers | CAC; WIPO | WIPO, Forum, ADNDRC, CAC, CIIDRC |
| Remedy | Transfer or revocation | Transfer or cancellation |
| Court window | 30 calendar days after notification | 10 business days after decision |
| Timeline | 2–3 months | About two months |
The “speculative and abusive” test
The .eu ADR does not use the UDRP’s three-element structure. It asks whether the registration is speculative or abusive, which is a broader and differently framed question. The “no rights or legitimate interests” limb can be satisfied without proof of bad faith, and the bad-faith limb is disjunctive.
The 30-working-day response
The .eu response window is 30 working days, which is longer than the UDRP’s 20 days but calculated in working days, not calendar days. The deadline runs from the notification of the proceeding.
Fees and the EURid subsidy
EURid is offering a EUR 600 discount throughout 2026, reducing the single-member panel fee for 1–5 domains from EUR 1,300 to EUR 700. This makes the .eu ADR significantly cheaper than a UDRP filing at WIPO for a comparable case.
The court window
After the ADR decision is notified, the parties have 30 calendar days to initiate court proceedings. The decision is binding on the parties and EURid unless court proceedings are started within that window.
The .eu ADR is cheaper and slower than the UDRP, with a different test. We match the procedure to the case. Ask us which fits →
Standing and eligibility: who can file
Rights in a name or mark
The complainant must have rights in a name or mark that is identical or confusingly similar to the domain. The rights can be a registered trademark, a company name, a trade name, or another protected name. The mark does not need to be registered in the EU, but it must be enforceable.
The EEA nexus
EURid’s eligibility rules require a connection to the European Economic Area (EEA) for registrants. For complainants, the question is whether they have rights that can support a complaint and whether they can enforce a transfer. A complainant outside the EEA may still have standing if it holds a protected name, but it should confirm eligibility before filing.
Brexit and UK complainants
WIPO has issued a Brexit Notice reminding UK-based parties contemplating an ADR complaint to consult EURid’s eligibility criteria. Since Brexit, UK entities may face additional eligibility questions. Complainants should confirm their position before filing.
Filing a .eu ADR complaint
Complaint contents
A .eu ADR complaint must include:
- The complainant’s details and authorised representative.
- The disputed domain name(s).
- The rights relied on.
- The basis for saying the registration is speculative or abusive.
- The evidence, in numbered annexes.
- The remedy sought: transfer or revocation.
- The certification.
Evidence
Useful evidence includes:
- Trademark registration certificates and proof of use.
- Company name or trade name evidence.
- Screenshots of the respondent’s website, with dates and URLs.
- WHOIS records.
- Correspondence showing an offer to sell, blocking, or disruption.
- Evidence of confusion.
- Evidence of a pattern of speculative registrations.
Fees and the EURid discount
The standard fee for a single-member panel for 1–5 domains is EUR 1,300. EURid’s EUR 600 discount reduces this to EUR 700 throughout 2026. The fee must be paid for the complaint to proceed; if the CAC has not received the fee within five days of notification of unpaid fees, the request is deemed withdrawn.
Administrative compliance
The CAC checks the complaint for administrative compliance and notifies the complainant of any deficiencies within five working days of receiving the fees. If the complaint is compliant, the CAC notifies the respondent that the proceeding has commenced.
EURid’s EUR 600 discount is available. We confirm the current fee and provider before you file. Start an ADR assessment →
The .eu ADR response: 30 working days
The deadline
The respondent must file a response within 30 working days from receiving the notification of the proceeding. The deadline is calculated in working days, not calendar days. If a submission deadline is given (for example, 12 June), the response must be filed before midnight in the respondent’s time zone.
Late responses
Late responses may be accepted if the complainant is also allowed to submit an additional filing, or if there are sufficient reasons for the late filing. The length of the delay and whether the other party objects are relevant factors. A late response is not guaranteed to be admitted.
Default and the panel’s approach
If the respondent does not respond, the panel decides on the complaint and the record. The panel still reviews the complaint for sufficiency. Default does not automatically entitle the complainant to a transfer, but it removes the respondent’s evidence from the record.
Building a response
A strong .eu response focuses on:
- Rights or legitimate interests: genuine business use, commonly known by the name, fair use, prior rights.
- No bad faith: priority, genuine reason for the name, no targeting, no commercial gain from confusion.
- The speculative limb: the registrant had a legitimate reason to register the name at the time.
- Procedural issues: deficiencies in the complaint, late filing, standing.
Received a .eu ADR notice? You have 30 working days. We review the complaint and build a response around the speculative-and-abusive test. Book a deadline review →
The panel and the decision
Single-member panel
Most .eu ADR cases are decided by a single-member panel. The panel is appointed by the provider from its list. The panel decides on the written record.
Three-member panel
A three-member panel is available in appropriate cases, typically where the complainant requests it and pays the higher fee. The panel’s decision is by majority.
Remedies: transfer, revocation, denial
The panel can:
- Transfer the domain to the complainant.
- Revoke the domain (the .eu equivalent of cancellation).
- Deny the complaint.
There are no damages.
Costs
The provider’s fee is borne by the complainant. The panel may allocate costs in exceptional circumstances, but the general rule is that each party bears its own costs.
Enforcement and the court window
The 30-day court window
The ADR decision is binding on the parties and on EURid unless court proceedings are initiated within 30 calendar days of notification of the result. This is a critical deadline. A party that disagrees with the decision must go to court within 30 days or the decision is implemented.
Implementing the decision
If no court proceedings are filed within 30 days, EURid implements the transfer or revocation. If court proceedings are filed, EURid awaits the court’s decision.
The court window is 30 days. If you lost, act quickly. Discuss your options →
Costs and timeline
| Stage | Typical duration |
|---|---|
| Complaint and compliance | 5 working days |
| Commencement and notification | Days |
| Response | 30 working days |
| Panel appointment and decision | Weeks |
| Overall | 2–3 months |
| Cost item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Single-member panel (1–5 domains) | EUR 700 (discounted from EUR 1,300) |
| Three-member panel | Higher; check CAC/WIPO schedule |
| Legal fees | Additional; varies by complexity |
Illustrative .eu ADR themes
Bad faith at renewal
.eu panels have found bad faith where a registrant renewed a domain with knowledge of the complainant’s rights, even if the original registration was not in bad faith. The renewal warranty is a key hook.
Typosquatting and pattern registrations
A respondent who registers multiple domains matching third-party marks within a short period can satisfy the bad-faith limb. Evidence of the pattern and the timing is critical.
Phishing and impersonation
Domains configured for phishing or impersonation are strong candidates for a .eu ADR complaint. The bad faith is often obvious from the domain’s mail records and website content.
No rights or legitimate interests without bad faith
The first limb of Article 21 can be satisfied even without proof of bad faith. A registrant with no connection to the name may be found to have registered without rights or legitimate interests.
Complainant checklist
- Rights: Registered trademark, company name, trade name, or other protected name.
- Speculative or abusive: No rights/legitimate interest or bad faith at registration or use.
- Evidence: Screenshots, WHOIS, correspondence, pattern evidence.
- Fee: EUR 700 (discounted) for 1–5 domains, single panel.
- Provider: CAC or WIPO.
- Eligibility: Confirm EEA nexus and transfer eligibility.
- Court window: 30 days after notification.
Ready to file a .eu ADR complaint? We assess the speculative-and-abusive test before you commit. Start an ADR assessment →
Respondent checklist
- Deadline: 30 working days from notification.
- Rights/legitimate interests: Genuine use, commonly known, fair use.
- No bad faith: Priority, genuine reason, no targeting.
- Late response: If missed, apply promptly with reasons.
- Court window: 30 days if you lose.
Received a .eu ADR notice? Do not default. Book a deadline review →
How counsel.domains can help
If you are planning a .eu ADR complaint, we test the speculative-and-abusive limbs against the evidence and confirm eligibility.
If you have received a .eu ADR notice, we review the 30-working-day deadline, build a response, and assess the court window.
If the case involves renewal bad faith or pattern registrations, we build the record panels expect.
counsel.domains Domain name disputes, worldwide. Talk to counsel about a .eu 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 EURid, CAC, WIPO, or any registry or dispute-resolution provider.