Domain Name Dispute Resolution

Bryn Aarflot helps clients resolve national and international domain name disputes efficiently, and we combine trademark expertise with market-leading investigative tools to strengthen your position from day one.

Registration of a domain name does not, in itself, create legal rights. To properly protect your name, you should secure your trademark rights and register the relevant domain names - and if a third party has already registered “your” domain, we can help you get it transferred.

Why Bryn Aarflot?

Bryn Aarflot has extensive experience handling domain name dispute resolution, both in Norway and internationally, including cases involving cybersquatting, bad-faith registrations and brand impersonation. We run matters end-to-end - from early assessment and strategy to filing, negotiation, transfer and enforcement where needed - and we tailor the approach to the domain, the jurisdiction and your commercial priorities.

We also combine legal expertise with technology: our teams use market-leading investigative tools to map domain ownership, hosting, historical use and connected domains, and we dig further where required. The objective is simple - increase success rates and reduce time-to-recovery.

Our domain name services

UDRP (ICANN)

UDRP is a fast-paced, simplified arbitration process for trademark-based disputes concerning domain names, administered under ICANN’s framework. It is primarily used for generic top-level domains (gTLDs) such as .com, .org and .net, and it also applies to many country-code domains that have adopted the policy. Where UDRP is available, it is often the most efficient route to obtain a transfer of a domain name that is identical or confusingly similar to your trademark and registered/used in bad faith.

ADR for country-code domains (including Norway)

Many country-code domains use national or regional ADR systems that deviate from the standardised UDRP format and include local procedural rules. In Norway, domain disputes for .no are typically handled through the national domain complaint mechanism administered in the Norid system. We assist with the full process - from pre-filing assessment and evidence collection to drafting, filing and handling correspondence until a final decision.

Litigation and other legal options

Bryn Aarflot is a full-service intellectual property firm. When the situation calls for broader remedies - or where the relevant jurisdiction does not offer a suitable administrative complaint procedure - we support you with the full set of legal tools, including cease-and-desist letters, settlement negotiations, interim measures and litigation. This is particularly relevant where a domain dispute is part of a wider infringement picture (marketing law, passing off, trademark infringement, fraud, or contractual issues).

Norid vs ICANN - what is the difference?

All .no domain names must be registered with UNINETT Norid AS (Norid), which administers the central domain database in Norway. Domain names are generally assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, which is why conflicts frequently arise around the registration and use of domains that resemble established trademarks and company names.

ICANN is the equivalent international authority for global domain name coordination, and its policies - including UDRP - underpin the dispute mechanisms used for many gTLDs.

Because domain registrations are easy to make and hard to undo without the right procedure, selecting the correct track (Norid complaint mechanism, UDRP, ADR in another country, or court proceedings) is a key strategic decision. We help you choose the route that gives the best combination of speed, cost control and likelihood of transfer.

Typical situations we handle

If your trademark is registered as a domain name - or as a dominant part of a domain name - by another party, we can normally pursue a transfer when the legal criteria are met. We frequently assist in cases involving:

Cybersquatting and domain parking, competitor registrations, impersonation and phishing domains, domain hijacking/abusive registrations, and disputes where the registrant claims “legitimate interest” in a name that conflicts with your trademark or business identifier.

How we work - fast assessment, clear advice

We start with a quick and practical assessment of your rights (trademark registrations, company names, prior use), the domain’s status (registrant, registrar, history and use), and the available dispute mechanisms and deadlines. In Norway, if the deadline for filing an administrative complaint has expired, the dispute must typically be brought before the Norwegian courts for consideration and decision - we advise early to preserve your options.

You will receive a recommended strategy and a clear plan for next steps, and we will provide a reliable cost estimate before we proceed.