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Domain Name Law

Domain names are now established as an important part of a company’s Intellectual Property portfolio.

In the early years of the internet, the only way to resolve domain name disputes was through the courts.   Now there are also a host of different domain name procedures that often provide a quick, efficient, self-enforcing and relatively inexpensive way of dealing with improper domain name use, regardless of where in the world the alleged “infringer” is based.

Our team is second-to-none when it comes to expertise in this area.  Matthew Harris is recognised by brand owners and domain name traders alike as an expert in the field of domain name law. He has personally decided over 500 domain name cases through the World Intellectual Property Organisation, Nominet and the CAC Arbitration Court. He is also one of only a handful of English lawyers appointed by WIPO as a Legal Rights Objection Expert and Trade Mark Post Delegation Dispute Resolution Expert.

Unusually for teams that undertake this sort of work, our lawyers have successfully acted both for those who are bringing and defending domain name proceedings.

In some cases, English court proceedings still remain the most effective option and can provide rapid and summary relief.  We have extensive experience of this procedure, and in appropriate cases members of our team have acted as advocates before the English courts in domain name related disputes.

Our team also undertakes a broad range of contractual and non-contentious Domain Name law related work.   That work includes acting for parties in transactions involving high value domain names and also providing advice in connection with setting up new gTLDs.

Specialist Intellectual Property Team

Recent Work

  • Acting for a pan-European sports organisations in UDRP proceedings to retrieve a domain name for use with a world famous sporting event
  • Acting for numerous entities in respect of typosquatting domains used to further fraudulent activities. In one case in 2021, 17 domain names were retrieved for a client in a single set of proceedings
  • Acting for a domain name portfolio owner in defending UDRP proceedings in relation to a high value domain and settling those proceedings in return for a substantial payment.
  • Acting for a domain name holder on the sale of a domain name for a 7-figure sum.

 

For a free, no obligation conversation with a solicitor contact us.

020 7234 0200

020 7234 0200

contact@waterfront.law