UDRP Risk Self-Assessment

The Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (UDRP) lets trademark owners recover domains registered and used in bad faith. A complainant must prove three elements. This self-assessment walks through each one with plain-language questions and shows where your risk is concentrated — useful before you buy a domain, and when you receive a complaint or a demand letter.

How to use the UDRP Risk Self-Assessment

1. Answer each question honestly.
2. Review the risk level for each of the three UDRP elements.
3. Follow the suggested next steps; consult a lawyer for real disputes.

How it works

The questions map to UDRP Paragraph 4(a): (i) the domain is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark in which the complainant has rights; (ii) the registrant has no rights or legitimate interests in it; (iii) it was registered and is being used in bad faith. All three must be proven for a complaint to succeed. Paragraph 4(c) lists ways to show legitimate interests, and 4(b) lists examples of bad faith. The scoring is a teaching aid, not a prediction.

When to use it

• Pre-purchase legal screening
• Responding to a demand letter
• Portfolio risk reviews

Pro tips

• Keep evidence of why and when you registered each domain.
• Never offer a domain for sale to a trademark owner for a price far above your costs in your first contact.
• Panels can find reverse domain name hijacking against complainants who abuse the process.