.UK Domain Dispute: Nominet DRS Guide

This guide is for complainants and respondents in .uk domain disputes. If you are unsure whether the DRS or the UDRP applies, read the DRS vs UDRP section. If you have just received a DRS complaint, go straight to the response section — the clock is 15 working days.

Quick answer: what the DRS is and what changed in 2026

The Nominet Dispute Resolution Service (DRS) is the procedure for disputes over .uk domain names, including .co.uk, .org.uk, and .uk. To succeed, a complainant must show rights in a name or mark identical or similar to the domain, and that the domain is an abusive registration. The respondent has 15 working days to respond. Mediation is free and automatic once a response is filed. A summary decision costs £200 if there is no response; a full decision costs £750 if the case is contested. An appeal to a three-expert panel costs £3,000 and must be lodged within 10 working days. From 7 July 2026, WIPO administers new DRS cases, but the policy, experts, mediation, appeal, and fee amounts remain the same, and fees are no longer subject to VAT.

Key facts at a glance

What is the Nominet DRS?

The .uk namespace

The DRS applies to the .uk family of domains managed by Nominet: .uk itself and names such as .co.uk, .org.uk, .me.uk, .ltd.uk, .plc.uk, and .net.uk. It is incorporated into the registration terms for those names.

Nominet also runs .cymru and .wales, but disputes over those names go through the UDRP or URS, not the DRS.

The 7 July 2026 transition to WIPO

From 7 July 2026, the administration of the DRS transferred to WIPO’s Arbitration and Mediation Center. New DRS cases are filed through WIPO’s website, and WIPO case managers handle the exchange of pleadings. Cases filed before 7 July 2026 remain with Nominet until completion.

The move was part of Nominet’s .UK Standardisation programme and the retirement of internal systems in 2027. WIPO already administers dispute procedures for more than 85 ccTLDs and has handled over 80,000 domain disputes since 1999.

What stayed the same

• The DRS Policy is unchanged, including the types of disputes that can be raised.
• Nominet’s independent Experts remain unchanged, chaired by Nick Gardner.
• Free mediation by Nominet staff continues.
• The appeal process remains the same.
• The fee amounts remain the same.
• Decision review continues to be conducted by the review group within the Experts panel.

What changed

• New cases are filed and managed through WIPO.
• Fees are no longer subject to VAT for cases filed from 7 July 2026. This is a direct cost saving for complainants.
• Decisions are published through WIPO, and the historic DRS archive remains available.

.uk dispute? Same policy, new administrator. We handle DRS cases filed through WIPO. Book a DRS review →

The DRS legal test: Rights + Abusive Registration

The DRS is not the UDRP. It has a two-limb test, and the second limb uses “or,” not “and.”

Rights in a name or mark

The complainant must have enforceable rights in a name or mark that is identical or similar to the domain. A registered trademark is the usual evidence, but it is not strictly required. Other legally enforceable rights may qualify.

Rights are assessed at the time of the complaint. Having rights when the domain was registered makes abuse easier to show, but it is not essential.

Abusive registration

A domain is an Abusive Registration if it:

1. was registered or otherwise acquired in a manner that took unfair advantage of, or was unfairly detrimental to, the complainant’s rights; or
2. has been used in a manner that took unfair advantage of, or was unfairly detrimental to, the complainant’s rights.

The “or” is critical. Under the UDRP, bad faith must be both at registration and in use. Under the DRS, unfair use at any point in the domain’s life can be enough, even if the original registration was innocent.

The policy gives non-exhaustive examples:

• Registering the domain mainly to sell it to the complainant or a competitor.
• Registering it to block the complainant.
• Registering it to disrupt the complainant’s business.
• Using it in a way that confuses internet users.

“Registered or used” vs the UDRP’s “and”

This difference matters strategically. A domain registered in good faith by a former partner and later used unfairly can be caught by the DRS even though it would not satisfy the UDRP’s conjunctive test.

The presumption after three adverse findings

There is a presumption of abusive registration if the complainant proves that the respondent has been found to have made an abusive registration in three or more DRS cases in the two years before the complaint was filed. This is a powerful tool against repeat cybersquatters, but it requires documented prior findings.

Defences: what makes a registration not abusive

The DRS Policy recognises factors that can show a registration is not abusive. These are the respondent’s strongest arguments.

Genuine business preparations

If the respondent has made demonstrable preparations to use the domain for a genuine business, that weighs against a finding of abuse. The preparations must be documented and must predate notice of the dispute.

Fair use of a generic or descriptive term

If the domain uses a generic or descriptive term for its ordinary meaning, the respondent may have a fair-use defence. This is particularly strong where the complainant’s mark is descriptive or weak.

Tribute or criticism sites

A site operated solely in tribute to or in criticism of the complainant can be legitimate, provided it is genuine and noncommercial. The criticism must not be a pretext for commercial gain or tarnishment.

Other factors panels weigh

• Whether the respondent is commonly known by the domain.
• Whether the domain was registered before the complainant’s rights arose.
• Whether the respondent has a genuine reason for choosing the name.
• Whether the use is commercial and misleading.
• Whether the respondent has offered to sell the domain.
• Whether there is a pattern of similar registrations.

The DRS is not the UDRP. The “registered or used” test can reach conduct the UDRP cannot. Ask us to assess your case →

Filing a DRS complaint through WIPO

Complaint contents

A DRS complaint must include:

• The complainant’s details and authorised representative.
• The disputed domain name(s).
• The rights relied on: registered trademark, company name, trading name, or other enforceable rights.
• The basis for saying the domain is an abusive registration.
• The remedy sought: transfer, suspension, or cancellation.
• The fee.
• The certification.

Evidence

Useful evidence includes:

• Trademark registration certificates and proof of use.
• Evidence of the complainant’s reputation.
• Screenshots of the respondent’s website.
• WHOIS records and historical records.
• Correspondence showing an offer to sell, blocking, or disruption.
• Evidence of confusion.
• Evidence of a pattern of abusive registrations.

Fees

Data release requests

If the registrant is behind a GDPR-restricted proxy service, the complainant can use a data release request to obtain the registrant’s details. Nominet’s teams continue to engage with registrars to identify the appropriate registrant.

The response: 15 working days

Deadline and format

The respondent has 15 working days from formal commencement to file a response. The response is submitted through WIPO’s system.

2,000-word limit

The response must be no more than 2,000 words, excluding annexes. This is a tight limit. The response should be focused on the two limbs: rights and abusive registration.

Default and summary decision

If the respondent does not respond, the complainant can seek a summary decision for £200. The expert certifies that the complainant has made out a prima facie case on both rights and abuse. The summary decision is cheaper because the expert is not required to write a full reasoned decision.

Received a DRS complaint? You have 15 working days. We review the complaint and build a focused response. Book a deadline review →

Mediation: free, automatic, and time-limited

How mediation works

Once a response is filed, the case is automatically referred to free mediation facilitated by Nominet staff. Mediation typically lasts 10 days, though the mediator may adjust the timetable.

The mediator does not decide the dispute. The mediator facilitates settlement. If the parties agree, the case closes on agreed terms. If mediation fails, the complainant may pay the expert-decision fee and proceed to a decision.

Why it matters

Mediation is a genuine opportunity to resolve the dispute without a written decision. It can produce outcomes an expert cannot order: a licence, a payment, a transition period, or a co-existence arrangement.

When to settle

Settlement is worth considering when:

• The evidence on both sides is mixed.
• The cost of a decision exceeds the value of the domain.
• The parties have an ongoing commercial relationship.
• The respondent has a plausible legitimate-interest story.
• The complainant wants to avoid the risk of an adverse decision.

Mediation is free and automatic once a response is filed. Use it strategically, not passively. Talk to counsel →

Summary decision vs full decision

The expert decision

The expert decides the case on the written record. The expert can:

• Transfer the domain to the complainant.
• Suspend the domain.
• Cancel the domain registration.
• Deny the complaint.

The expert’s decision is binding, subject to appeal.

Appeal: 10 working days and £3,000

Grounds

Either party can appeal to a three-expert panel within 10 working days of the original decision. The appeal fee is £3,000 (no VAT from 7 July 2026).

Appeals are not a full rehearing. The appeal panel reviews the expert’s decision for errors of law or significant procedural or factual errors. New evidence is rarely admitted.

The three-expert panel

The appeal panel consists of three Experts from Nominet’s panel. The panel’s decision is final within the DRS.

New evidence

New evidence is admitted only in limited circumstances. The appeal is not an opportunity to re-run the case with a better evidence file.

Appeal deadlines are short. If you lost, act within 10 working days. Discuss an appeal →

Remedies: transfer, suspension, cancellation

The DRS can order:

• Transfer of the domain to the complainant.
• Suspension of the domain.
• Cancellation of the domain registration.

The DRS does not award damages. If you need monetary relief, you need court proceedings.

Costs and timeline

Costs:

• Summary decision: £200 (no VAT).
• Full decision: £750 (no VAT).
• Appeal: £3,000 (no VAT).
• Mediation: free.

DRS vs UDRP: what UDRP lawyers get wrong

The key mistake: Applying UDRP case law to a DRS question. The DRS has its own Experts’ Overview and its own body of decisions. The “registered or used” test and the mediation stage change the strategy for both sides.

Illustrative DRS themes

Innocent registration, later abusive use

A domain registered in good faith by a former partner can become an abusive registration if it is later used to take unfair advantage of the complainant’s rights. The “or” in the DRS test makes this possible.

Genuine business preparations

A respondent who has documented preparations to use the domain for a genuine business can defeat an abuse claim, even if the domain is similar to the complainant’s mark.

Descriptive terms and fair use

A domain using a descriptive term for its ordinary meaning may be a fair use, particularly where the complainant’s mark is weak.

Criticism sites

A genuine criticism site can be legitimate, provided it is noncommercial and not a pretext for tarnishment or commercial gain.

Complainant checklist

• Rights? Registered trademark, company name, trading name, or other enforceable rights.
• Abusive registration? Evidence of unfair registration or unfair use.
• Priority? Did your rights predate the domain, or is there evidence of targeting?
• Evidence file? Screenshots, WHOIS, correspondence, confusion evidence.
• Fee? £200 summary or £750 full decision.
• Mediation? Consider settlement before the expert decision.
• Appeal? If you lose, 10 working days and £3,000.

Ready to file a DRS complaint? We assess rights and abuse before you commit. Start a DRS assessment →

Respondent checklist

• Deadline: 15 working days from formal commencement.
• Response: 2,000 words, excluding annexes.
• Rights: Is the complainant’s mark registered or enforceable?
• Abusive registration: Is the claim based on registration or use?
• Defences: Genuine business preparations, fair use, tribute/criticism, priority.
• Mediation: Free and automatic once you respond.
• Appeal: 10 working days and £3,000 if you lose.

Received a DRS complaint? Do not default. Book a deadline review →

How counsel.domains can help

If you are filing a DRS complaint, we assess rights and abuse, gather evidence, and file through WIPO.

If you have received a DRS complaint, we review the 15-working-day deadline, build a focused response, and use mediation strategically.

If you lost and are considering an appeal, we assess the grounds and act within the 10-working-day deadline.

counsel.domains Domain name disputes, worldwide. Talk to counsel about a .uk 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 Nominet, WIPO, or any registry or dispute-resolution provider.