Trademark Holders

Legal Position

Owning a registered trademark does not give automatic rights or priority to a matching or similar domain name. A trademark does not grant ownership of domain names, and different parties can legitimately hold similar marks in different classes or sectors.

Legitimate domain trading is a long‑established and lawful secondary market in the UK. Buying and selling .co.uk domain names is normal commercial activity and recognised under UK law.

Nominet DRS Process (WIPO from 7 July 2026)

If a trademark owner files a complaint under Nominet's Dispute Resolution Service (DRS), we will request that the matter proceeds directly to the Expert Decision stage, bypassing mediation.

From 7 July 2026, all new DRS complaints are administered by WIPO under Nominet's existing DRS Policy. The fee for an Expert Decision is £750, payable in full and in advance by the complainant. This fee is non‑refundable, and VAT does not apply to cases raised on or after 7 July 2026.

Complainants should ensure they are prepared to bear the full loss of £750, as the decision is made solely at the discretion of Nominet's independent expert panel and there is no guarantee of success.

Appeals

If the complainant wishes to appeal an Expert Decision:

• Intention to Appeal deposit: £300 (non‑refundable if the appeal does not proceed).
• Full Appeal Fee: £3,000 (payable in advance; VAT does not apply to cases raised on or after 7 July 2026).

Appeals are handled by a three‑member panel and are significantly more costly. Complainants should be satisfied they can bear the full loss of £3,000, as there is no guarantee of success.