Reverse Domain Name Hijacking Information

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RDNH Resources

(updated October 1, 2022)

Posts and Articles  

Stevan Lieberman has written  a comprehensive discussion of RDNH, both in ICANN’s Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (Policy) and in the U.S. Anti-Cybersquatting Protection Act (ACPA).

Rick Schwartz’s Hall of Shame publicly shames those companies that have been found guilty of RDNH.

Panelist The Honorable Neil Brown QC gives his views on RDNH, including that panelists have a positive duty to consider whether a RDNH finding is warranted whether or not the Respondent requests it.

Bill Hartzer provides an easy to understand example of RDNH.

Abusive Complaints in Uniform Rapid Suspension (URS) Disputes

Under the URS, a panel may make a finding that the complaint was an abuse of process.  It is a rarely made finding. When we learn of such findings, we’ll include them here.

rkguns.org (Forum Decision) September 9, 2022

Selected ccTLD Decisions Finding that the Complaint is an Abuse of Process

Country code extensions (ccTLDs) are not overseen by ICANN.  The rules for each ccTLD may be unique to that country’s registry. Many ccTLDs have developed their own dispute policies that differ from the ICANN UDRP policy in significant ways.  As the criteria for RDNH under the dispute policy for a particular ccTLD may differ from the criteria under the UDRP, these decisions are not included in the table of RDNH decisions under the UDRP.  Some ccTLDs dispute policies have no provision for an RDNH finding, such as .nl and .se.  Determinations by a panelist that a complaint was an abuse of a ccTLD dispute policy are listed here as we learn of them.

.AU

homebuilder.net.au (WIPO Decision)  January 26, 2023
scuba.net.au (WIPO Decision)  November 21, 2022
affirm.com.au (WIPO Decision) June 4, 2021
threebestrated.com.au (WIPO Decision) May 11, 2020
datacom.net.au (WIPO Decision) March 4, 2020
smartmark.com.au (WIPO Decision) February 19, 2020
carmans.com.au (WIPO Decision) February 2, 2016
etg.com.au (WIPO Decision) April 17, 2015
wow.com.au (WIPO Decision) July 24, 2007

.EU

kinetiksports.eu (WIPO Decision) May 15, 2021

.GG

magiceden.gg (CIDD Decision) April 22, 2023
levelup.gg (CIDD Decision) November 30, 2020

.IN

tickets.in (NIXI decision – PDF)  March 17, 2020
computer.in (NIXI decision – PDF) May 3, 2006

.UK

somavedic.co.uk   D23540   June 14, 2021
vipbody.co.uk   D23130   January 25, 2021
peli.co.uk   D22816   November 12, 2020
matesrates.co.uk   D21240   June 6, 2019
chemist.uk   D21149   May 9, 2019
siteready.co.uk   D21142   May 7, 2019
splitpay.co.uk   D21075   April 15, 2019
pusher.co.uk   D20783   January 3, 2019
dignity.co.uk   D18931   October 17, 2017   (upheld on appeal)
hrworks.uk/hrworks.co.uk   D18610   May 24, 2017
so31.co.uk   D14891   December 31, 2015
mango.uk/mango.co.uk   D15585   May 5, 2015
chemist4u.co.uk   D14891   November 30, 2014
psg.co.uk   D5899   October 13, 2008
pleasureland.co.uk   D2206   February 9, 2005
dodge.co.uk  D1114   September 8, 2003
cardpoint.co.uk  D538  September 20, 2002


Illuminating Panel Findings

(Former) panelist Dr. Martin Mueller sees the RDNH as appropriate when trademark holders file a UDRP complaint without sufficient evidence of bad faith on the part of the domain registrant:

The ICANN Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) makes challenges to domain name assignments relatively easy and inexpensive. It is, therefore, absolutely essential for panelists to ensure that it be carefully restricted to cases of abusive, bad faith registration. In particular, we must not allow it to be used by complainants to seek control of names that happened to be registered by someone else first. The mere possession of a trademark, in and of itself, does not give a party a colorable claim to a domain name under the UDRP.

A panel can make a finding of RDNH even if it is not requested by the Respondent, and indeed, even in cases where the Respondent fails to make any response.

This is stated by Panelist Richard Lyon in the womantowomanhealthcenter.com decision:

Panel’s Initiative in Considering Reverse Domain Name Hijacking. On his own initiative the Panel considers whether Complainant has engaged in Reverse Domain Name Hijacking (RDNH). This Panel firmly believes a UDRP panel may make this inquiry in an appropriate case even if not so requested by the respondent, and indeed should do so fully to discharge its obligations under the Rules, see Goway Travel Limited v. Tourism AustraliaWIPO Case No. D2006-0344 (citation omitted) (“The Rules specifically put the burden on the Panel to determine whether a complainant has tried to use ‘the Policy in bad faith to attempt to deprive a registered domain name holder of a domain name.’“), and to preserve the integrity of the UDRP process, see Credit Europe Bank N. V. v. Peter YuWIPO Case No. D2010-0737 (concurring opinion); Bittorrent Marketing GmbH v. Adlntensity Ltd, Adam SmithWIPO Case No. D2007-1033 (opinion dissenting from denial of RDNH).