Domain Glossary
23 terms matching your filter
ACPA (Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act)
A US federal law allowing trademark owners to sue cybersquatters for up to $100,000 per domain.
Bad Faith (Domain)
The intent to unfairly exploit a trademark when registering a domain — a required element in UDRP complaints.
Cease and Desist Letter
A formal demand letter from a trademark holder asking a domain owner to stop using or transfer a domain.
Common Law Trademark
Trademark rights based on actual commercial use, without formal registration — can support UDRP claims.
Cybersquatting
Registering a trademarked domain name in bad faith to profit from someone else's brand.
Domain Dispute
A legal or administrative challenge to the rightful ownership of a domain name.
Domain Hijacking
The unauthorized theft of a domain name through account compromise or social engineering.
Domain Seizure
Government-ordered confiscation of a domain name as part of legal or criminal enforcement action.
Domain Suspension
Temporary deactivation of a domain — causes website and email to go offline until the issue is resolved.
GDPR and Domain Privacy
The EU privacy law that caused most registrars to hide registrant personal data from public WHOIS records.
Generic Domain
A domain made up of common dictionary words with no trademark significance — legally strong and highly valuable.
In Rem Action
An ACPA lawsuit filed against the domain itself when the owner is unknown or outside US jurisdiction.
Landrush Period
A new TLD launch phase where the general public can register domains, often at premium prices.
Legitimate Interest (Domain)
A domain owner's valid right to a domain that defeats a UDRP complaint — includes bona fide business use and descriptive names.
NAF (National Arbitration Forum)
An ICANN-accredited UDRP dispute resolution provider, second only to WIPO in case volume.
Privacy Proxy Service
A service that replaces your personal WHOIS data with generic proxy contact details to protect your identity.
RDNH (Reverse Domain Name Hijacking)
When a trademark holder abusively files a UDRP complaint against a legitimate domain owner to steal their domain.
Sunrise Period
A pre-launch registration window for new TLDs where trademark holders can register their marks first.
Trademark
A legally protected brand identifier — trademark rights are central to domain dispute claims.
Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH)
ICANN's database of verified trademarks used to protect brand owners during new TLD launches.
UDRP (Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy)
ICANN's dispute policy allowing trademark holders to challenge infringing domain registrations through arbitration.
URS (Uniform Rapid Suspension)
A faster, cheaper UDRP alternative for new gTLDs — results in suspension rather than transfer.
WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization)
The UN's IP agency and largest UDRP dispute resolution provider — its case database is essential for domain research.