Nominet Dispute Resolution Service (DRS) Policy

About this policy

Nominet is the official registry for .uk domain names. Where Axia Computer Systems Ltd registers or manages .uk domain names on behalf of clients, those domains are subject to Nominet’s Terms and Conditions of Domain Name Registration and to Nominet’s Dispute Resolution Service (DRS) Policy. This page explains the DRS in plain terms.

What is the Nominet DRS?

The Dispute Resolution Service (DRS) is Nominet’s fast, cost-effective way of resolving disputes over .uk domain names without the need to go to court. It is most commonly used where someone believes a domain name is an “abusive registration” — for example, where it takes unfair advantage of, or is unfairly detrimental to, their rights, such as a registered trade mark or established brand name.

How the DRS works

• Complaint — a complainant submits a complaint to Nominet, setting out their rights and why they believe the registration is abusive.
• Response — the domain holder (the respondent) has the opportunity to respond.
• Mediation — Nominet offers a free, informal mediation service to help the parties reach agreement.
• Expert decision — if mediation does not resolve matters, the complainant can pay for an independent Expert to decide the case. The Expert can order that the domain be transferred, suspended, cancelled or left unchanged.
• Appeal — either party may appeal an Expert’s decision to a panel of experts.

To succeed, a complainant must show

• They have Rights in a name or mark that is identical or similar to the domain name; and
• The domain name, in the hands of the respondent, is an Abusive Registration.

How this applies to Axia clients

Where we register and manage .uk domains for clients, those registrations are bound by Nominet’s policies, including the DRS. If a dispute arises in relation to one of your domains, we will help you understand the process and support you in responding, although the DRS itself is administered independently by Nominet. We always recommend registering domains that reflect your own business name and brand to reduce the risk of disputes.

Official policy and further information

This page is a summary for convenience only and does not replace Nominet’s official documents. The full, authoritative policy and procedure are published by Nominet:

• Nominet domain policies
• Nominet Dispute Resolution Service (domain disputes)

For formal advice on a specific domain dispute, we recommend seeking independent legal advice. If you have any questions about a domain we manage for you, please get in touch.