What is domain name arbitration?

Using keyword analyzers to find that perfect domain name, you finally figured out what name fits your website. Now, you are finding if it’s available to become your website name. When you figured out that your ideal domain name is out there, you get very excited to grab it. Well, it is because you think that it’s going to be useful for your site and for you for making desired profits. You signed up because you think it is ready for grabbing because the domain company has said it is available. 

Later on, you received a correspondence letter from a lawyer that said your domain name has infringed the trademark of someone else’s company. Because of that, you know that you might face a legal battle that may result to you losing your domain name, your online reputation and so many other consequences. If you are faced with such a problem, then you may go for a domain name arbitration to help you get out of that situation and prevent yourself from facing any legal consequences. 

What Really Is Domain Name Arbitration?

Usually, a process works for the original domain holder and the complainant and allows arbitration or a reasonable agreement to find out who actually has the rights to the said domain name.  The process is done using the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy or UDRP. It’s the method set forth by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Organization. This group is the best-known arbitrator for its timesaving and cheaper solution as compared to the traditional means of litigation. 

To start with, the domain name arbitration, the website master should opt for an ICANN accredited provider to manage such domain name disputes. When the process starts, your provider will find out if the complainant’s complaint has his merits on the claim by checking if the domain name questioned is the same to the domain name or trademark of the claimant. 

The company will find out what kind of rights the claimant has on the domain name together if issues such as that the chosen domain name was selected by accident or was chosen to use the brand’s popularity of the claimant.

In situations when the domain name was found out that it was chosen intentionally, all of its rights will go to the claimant. If not, the main owner can keep the possession of it. 

If any of the parties is not convince or satisfied with the results, they will go through a legal battle in the courtroom. The same thing happened to the actor Robert De Niro when he claimed the rights to a site’s domain name Tribeca, but up to now, he’s into a legal battle against someone claiming Tribeca.net. 

Overall, domain name arbitration is a great method to choose if you don’t want to take much time in resolving a dispute and to take it in the courtroom, an option chosen by both parties who aren’t satisfied with the findings of the arbitration. Nonetheless, the decisions set by the UDRP panel are acceptable because getting a consul is more affordable than taking a battle into the courtroom.