Fast Suspension and Country-Code Domain Disputes
Not every infringing domain ends in .com. Copies of your brand on new extensions such as .shop, .online, or .app can be suspended in weeks under the Uniform Rapid Suspension System. National domains such as .co, .mx, .br, .es, and .eu each have their own dispute rules. We identify the procedure that applies and use the fastest one that fits.
The extension decides the forum
The dispute rules come from the registry that runs the extension. Generic domains follow ICANN policies; country-code domains follow the rules each national registry sets, which may be the UDRP, a local version of it, or something else entirely.
Legacy gTLDs
.com and .net use the UDRP. The URS does not apply to them.
UDRPNew gTLDs
Extensions launched since 2012, such as .shop, .online, .app, and .store, use both the UDRP and the URS.
UDRP or URSUDRP-based ccTLDs
Many national registries, including .co, .mx, and .pe, use the UDRP or a close variant administered by WIPO.
UDRP or variantOwn procedures or courts
Some registries, such as .ar and .cl, run their own procedures. Others, such as .de, leave disputes to national courts.
Local rulesURS or UDRP for a new gTLD?
For a new gTLD, a brand can choose. The URS is quicker and cheaper but sets a higher bar and only freezes the domain. The UDRP takes longer but transfers the domain to you.
| URSUniform Rapid Suspension System | UDRPUniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy | |
|---|---|---|
| Domains covered | New gTLDs, and legacy TLDs that adopted it, such as .org | All gTLDs, including .com and .net, and many ccTLDs |
| Standard of proof | Clear and convincing evidence | Preponderance of the evidence |
| Remedy | Suspension for the rest of the registration term, with an option to extend one year; the domain shows a URS notice | Transfer to the brand, or cancellation |
| Provider fee | About $300–$500 | From $1,500 at WIPO |
| Response deadline | 14 calendar days | 20 days, extendable by 4 on request |
| Typical time to decision | Under three weeks | About two months; one month on WIPO's priority track |
| Complaint length | Short form, limited word count | Full complaint and evidence |
| Mark required | A valid registration, or one validated by a court or the Trademark Clearinghouse, in current use | A registration, or proven unregistered rights |
| Review | Appeal within 14 days; a defaulting holder can respond up to six months later | Court action within 10 business days blocks transfer |
| Best suited for | Obvious copies used for fraud or counterfeits, where speed matters more than ownership | Domains the brand wants to own and use, or less clear-cut cases |
◆ marks rows where the two differ. Because a suspended domain returns to the market when its registration expires, the URS is often a first step, with the UDRP or a defensive registration to follow.
Dispute procedures for key country-code domains
For brands from Latin America and Europe, the most important national domains are usually their home market's and those of their main export markets. Each registry sets its own eligibility rules, deadlines, and remedies.
| Domain | Procedure | Provider | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| .co · Colombia | UDRP | WIPO | Widely used worldwide as a ".com" alternative; WIPO's most-disputed ccTLD in 2025 |
| .mx · Mexico | LDRP, a UDRP-based policy | WIPO | Administered for NIC México; fully electronic filing |
| .br · Brazil | SACI-Adm | WIPO and other accredited Brazilian providers | Brazil's own administrative procedure; complaints often in Portuguese |
| .pe · Peru | UDRP-based policy | WIPO | Administered for Peru's registry |
| .ve · Venezuela | UDRP-based policy | WIPO | Administered for Venezuela's registry |
| .ar · Argentina | Registry procedure | NIC Argentina | Not a UDRP proceeding; local rules and documents apply |
| .cl · Chile | Mandatory arbitration | NIC Chile | Arbitrators appointed by NIC Chile; also used for challenges to new registrations |
| .es · Spain | .ES dispute resolution policy | WIPO and other approved providers | Spanish-language proceedings are common |
| .fr · France | SYRELI and PARL EXPERT | AFNIC; PARL EXPERT also through WIPO | SYRELI is decided by AFNIC itself |
| .eu · European Union | .EU ADR | Czech Arbitration Court and WIPO | Eligibility rules for .eu holders also matter |
| .uk · United Kingdom | DRS | WIPO, since July 7, 2026 | Formerly administered by Nominet |
| .de · Germany | No ADR procedure | German courts | A DENIC "dispute entry" can block transfers while a case is pending |
| .ca · Canada | CDRP | Approved Canadian providers | Canadian presence requirements apply to holders |
| .us · United States | usDRP and usRS | The Forum | U.S. nexus requirements apply to holders |
Registries change their policies and providers. We confirm the current procedure with the registry before filing any country-code complaint.
A URS case, step by step
The URS is built for speed. The complaint is short, the response window is two weeks, and the registry acts quickly once the examiner decides.
- DaysConfirm eligibilityThe extension is covered and the mark qualifies.
- Filing dayComplaint filedShort-form complaint with screenshots.
- 24 hoursRegistry lockThe domain is locked but still resolves.
- 14 daysResponse windowThe holder may respond; most do not.
- DaysExaminer decidesClear and convincing evidence of all three elements.
- On decisionSuspensionThe domain points to a URS notice page.
- Before expiryNext stepExtend the suspension, file a UDRP, or watch for re-registration.
What these procedures cost
Provider fees are set by each provider and registry and are generally lower for the URS and country-code procedures than for a UDRP case.
The Trademark Clearinghouse and defensive registrations
Recording your trademark in ICANN's Trademark Clearinghouse gives you priority to register matching names during each new extension's launch period, and notices when someone registers a matching name. With ICANN's next round of new gTLDs now under way, that early warning matters more.
Registering your brand in your key national domains, such as .com.mx, .com.co, .com.br, or .es, before launching in a market is usually cheaper than recovering them later.
A sensible domain portfolio for a Latin American or European brand
- The .com, plus the national domain of each market where you sell
- Common misspellings of the brand in .com
- The Trademark Clearinghouse for the main word mark
- Monitoring for new registrations that contain the brand
Five most common mistakes in URS and country-code disputes
These procedures are fast and inexpensive, which makes it easy to file the wrong one or to win without solving the problem.
Choosing the URS when you want the domain
A URS win only suspends the domain until its registration expires. Brands that wanted to use the domain are disappointed, and the name can be re-registered by another cybersquatter.
Suspension onlyUse the URS for fast takedowns; use the UDRP when you want to own the domain.
Filing a URS on a close case
The URS requires clear and convincing evidence. Cases with any real question about the holder's rights or good faith are denied, and the denial can be cited against you later.
Burden of proofReserve the URS for obvious abuse, and file a UDRP where the facts need explaining.
Assuming every country code follows the UDRP
Filing a UDRP-style complaint for a .ar, .cl, or .de domain, or missing a registry's own eligibility rules and deadlines, wastes time and fees.
Wrong forumConfirm the registry's current procedure, provider, and language before drafting.
Ignoring language and local-law requirements
Some national procedures run in the local language or rely on local trademark rights. A complaint built on a U.S. registration alone may be weaker than one based on a registration in that country.
Language · local rightsUse registrations from the domain's country where you have them, and plan for translation.
Winning one domain and ignoring the next
Cybersquatters move to a new extension as soon as one domain is suspended. Without monitoring and defensive registrations, the same brand is targeted again within weeks.
Repeat abusePair each takedown with monitoring, the Trademark Clearinghouse, and registrations in key markets.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the URS against a .com domain?
No. The URS applies to new gTLDs and to some older extensions, such as .org, that adopted it. A .com dispute uses the UDRP or a lawsuit.
Does a URS win give me the domain?
No. The domain is suspended for the rest of its registration term and points to a notice page. To own it, file a UDRP complaint.
How fast is the URS?
A determination usually issues in less than three weeks from filing, and the registry suspends the domain promptly after that.
How are .mx and .co disputes handled?
Both use UDRP-based policies administered by WIPO. The procedures are similar to a UDRP case, with some local rules.
What about a .com.br or .com.ar domain?
Brazil uses its own SACI-Adm procedure through WIPO and other accredited providers. Argentina uses a procedure run by NIC Argentina. Neither is a UDRP case.
Can I stop cybersquatters before they register?
Partly. The Trademark Clearinghouse gives priority registration and notices for new gTLDs, and registering your brand in key national domains prevents many disputes.
Check which procedure applies
Send us the domain name and tell us how it is being used. We will identify the registry's procedure, the fastest route to a takedown or transfer, and what it will cost.
- URS complaints for new gTLD domains
- Country-code complaints through WIPO and national registries
- Coordination with local counsel where required
- Trademark Clearinghouse filings and domain monitoring