Guidance

Received a pre‑action letter from DomainDisputes.net?

A practical guide to what this means and what you should do next.

First things first

We understand receiving a legal letter can feel stressful. Please read it carefully and take it seriously. Domain disputes are typically governed by international procedures such as the UDRP (WIPO/ICANN), URS, or the UK Nominet DRS. Remedies may also be sought and enforced under national law.

A pre‑action letter signals that a complaint may be filed under the UDRP/URS/DRS (or before a court). It is not a court judgment or a fine. It is a notice of intention to take action to resolve a dispute, usually about whether a domain was registered and used in bad faith.

Your rights

  • You have the right to respond and defend your position.
  • Courts and panels are independent and consider both sides.
  • If you believe you have legitimate interests or good‑faith use, explain this clearly; it will be considered.
  • If you wish to avoid proceedings, you can explore stopping the use or voluntarily transferring the domain.

What to do now

You should reply. If you do nothing, the complainant may proceed to file a complaint with a dispute resolution provider or bring proceedings before a court. We recommend seeking independent legal advice promptly to assess the merits of your position and next steps.

If the letter came from us, we won’t be able to represent you due to conflicts. If you received a letter from someone else and want guidance:
  • Use our Cease & Desist package to prepare a professional response letter, or
  • Use our Defend package for full UDRP/URS response representation.

Independent resources

Need clarification?

If you’ve received a letter and are unsure of your options, you may wish to seek independent advice. If you want to contact us directly, you can reach us here: Contact form.