Domain Name Dispute: Get a Cybersquatted .in or .com Domain Back
A domain name dispute starts when someone else registers a name that matches your brand and will not hand it over. For .in domains the route is the INDRP, run by NIXI. For .com and most other extensions it is the UDRP. We prepare the evidence and the complaint, and coordinate the filing.
What it is
A domain name dispute is a formal complaint that a registered domain name copies your name or trademark and the registrant has no good reason to hold it. If you win, the domain is transferred to you or cancelled. You cannot claim damages here. The prize is the domain itself.
For .in domains, the complaint goes under the .IN Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (INDRP), administered by the .IN Registry (NIXI). NIXI appoints an arbitrator from its panel, and the proceeding is an arbitration seated in Delhi. For .com, .net, .org and similar extensions, the ICANN Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (UDRP) applies, usually through WIPO.
Who it applies to
Your brand name is sitting with a stranger
Say you launched a new brand and found that the matching .in or .com is registered to someone else, parked, or listed for sale at a price that makes no sense.
A lookalike is copying your customers
Someone registered your name with one letter changed, or added “-india” or “-online”, and the site is collecting enquiries meant for you.
An old domain slipped away
A former partner, employee or web agency registered the domain in their own name, or it lapsed and was picked up by someone else.
Why it matters
Customers land in the wrong place
Picture a Faridabad exporter whose customers type the brand name and land on a copycat site. They blame the exporter, not the squatter. Fake payment pages and spam mail sent from a lookalike domain hit your reputation first.
A trademark is not enough on its own
A registered mark helps, but it does not switch off someone else’s domain. You still need a complaint or a court order to take it back.
The cost is fixed, the alternative is not
The fees for an INDRP or UDRP complaint are published in advance. Paying a squatter’s asking price keeps growing once they know how much the name matters to you.
Documents required
Proof of your rights
- Trademark registration certificate or application, if any
- Company or firm registration documents showing the name
- Invoices, advertising, GST records and website history showing use of the name
Proof about the domain
- WHOIS record and registrar details
- Dated screenshots of the website or parking page
- Offers to sell, emails and messages from the registrant
Authority papers
- Board resolution or authority letter for the person filing
- PAN, address proof and contact details of the complainant
- Index of annexures, kept within the page limit
How it works
Check your rights and the domain
We review your name or mark, how long you have used it, and what the registrant is doing with the domain. A trademark search helps show where your rights stand. This decides whether INDRP, UDRP or a court case is the right route.
Save the evidence
We save dated screenshots, the WHOIS record and any sale offers before the registrant changes the page. Evidence saved early is hard to argue with later.
Draft and file the complaint
We prepare the complaint around the three grounds the policy requires, with an indexed annexure bundle, for your review. For INDRP it is filed with NIXI with the fee. For UDRP it is filed with the provider, usually WIPO.
Follow the case to the order
We coordinate replies and notices, and keep you updated while the arbitrator or panel decides. When the order comes, we help you get the domain transferred to your registrar account and secured with the right contact details.
INDRP, UDRP and a court case compared
| INDRP | UDRP | Court case | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applies to | .in domains | .com, .net, .org and most other extensions | Any domain, where an Indian court has jurisdiction |
| Decided by | Arbitrator appointed by NIXI | WIPO or another approved provider’s panel | District Court or High Court |
| What you can get | Transfer or cancellation, and costs | Transfer or cancellation | Injunction, damages or account of profits, delivery-up |
| Official fee | ₹30,000 plus 18% GST | US$1,500 for a single panelist (1–5 domains) | Court fee plus advocate fees |
If the other side is also copying your goods or services, the trademark infringement route can run alongside. A legal notice, signed by a practising advocate, is sometimes tried first.
Timelines
INDRP filing stage
NIXI checks the complaint for compliance within five working days. If it raises objections, you get seven working days to resubmit. The arbitrator is appointed within five working days.
INDRP decision
The arbitrator must pass the award within 60 days of commencement. A written extension of up to 30 days is allowed. Requests for correction or interpretation come within 30 days of the award.
UDRP
WIPO runs a standard process and a priority service that decides within about a month from commencement, at an extra fee. The base fee is US$1,500 for one panelist.
What happens if you wait
The page changes
Here is the catch: squatters often swap a parking page for a business site the moment they hear from you. Evidence of the original use disappears, so save it now.
The domain moves on
A domain that is sold or moved between registrants becomes harder to track. Start before it changes hands.
Your remedy shrinks to a price
Without a complaint, you can only negotiate, and the seller sets the price. With a complaint filed, you negotiate from a different position.
Frequently asked questions
What do I have to prove in an INDRP complaint?
You have to prove three things under paragraph 4 of the policy: the domain is identical or confusingly similar to your name, trademark or service mark; the registrant has no rights or legitimate interests in it; and it was registered or is being used in bad faith. The case runs on documents, not witnesses. We build the annexures around each ground so the arbitrator can follow them quickly.
How much does an INDRP complaint cost?
The published fee is ₹30,000 plus 18% GST. That is ₹10,000 as the Registry administration fee and ₹20,000 as the arbitrator’s fee. If the arbitrator allows a personal hearing, each session carries ₹2,000 plus GST, with a maximum of two. NIXI takes no action until the full amount is received. Our fee comes on top, quoted before you start.
How long does an INDRP case take?
The arbitrator has to pass the award within 60 days from commencement, and can extend by up to 30 days with written reasons. NIXI’s compliance check and the arbitrator’s appointment each take about five working days before that. In practice, plan for about three months from filing to award, plus time for the transfer itself.
Do I need a registered trademark to file?
No. INDRP covers a “name, trademark or service mark”, so unregistered rights can count if you show real use and reputation. A registered mark makes the case simpler and the evidence shorter. If you do not have one yet, we can start the trademark registration in parallel.
Can I get compensation from the registrant?
Not through INDRP or UDRP. The remedies are cancellation or transfer of the domain, plus costs in INDRP. If you want damages or an injunction, you need a civil suit in a court with jurisdiction. A practising advocate files it and appears. We prepare the documents and keep the file moving.
What is the difference between INDRP and UDRP?
INDRP is for .in domains and is an arbitration run through NIXI, with Indian law and a Delhi seat. UDRP is for .com, .net, .org and most other extensions, decided by a provider such as WIPO. Both aim at transfer or cancellation. We check the extension first, because it fixes the route and the fee.
Does Taxhint appear as the advocate?
No. We prepare the evidence bundle and the complaint, coordinate the filing and follow up on notices. Where the matter needs an advocate to sign or appear, as in a court case, a practising advocate does that and we handle the paperwork around it. We tell you upfront which parts need an advocate.
Can the registrant simply ignore the complaint?
They can, but the arbitrator or panel still decides on the evidence you file. A silent respondent does not win by default. A complete, well-indexed complaint matters even more when no reply comes. Our job is to make that bundle clear enough to stand on its own.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
Official fees, for reference: INDRP ₹30,000 plus 18% GST, with ₹2,000 plus GST for each personal hearing, up to two. UDRP at WIPO is US$1,500 for a single panelist and US$4,000 for a three-member panel, for one to five domain names. Court fees depend on the suit.
Ready to begin?
Tell us the domain and the brand it copies, and we will say whether INDRP, UDRP or a court case fits.