Reviewed by Nour Saleem, Registered Trademark & Patent Agent and Dubai Courts IP expert · Last updated September 2026
Quick answer: If someone has registered a domain that copies your trademark, you can usually seek its transfer through the UDRP (for .com and most generic domains) or the .ae dispute policy (for UAE domains), provided you can show trademark rights, no legitimate interest by the registrant, and bad-faith registration and use. A registered trademark makes your case much stronger.
When Do You Have a Case?
Domain dispute procedures generally require you to prove three things:
- The domain is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark in which you have rights.
- The registrant has no rights or legitimate interests in the domain.
- The domain was registered and is being used in bad faith, for example to sell it to you, divert your customers, or run phishing or counterfeit sites.
Our Domain Dispute Services
- Assessment of your trademark rights and the strength of your case.
- Evidence gathering: WHOIS history, website captures and proof of bad faith.
- Cease-and-desist letters and negotiated transfers where faster and cheaper.
- Preparation and filing of UDRP and .ae complaints.
- Coordination with registrars, hosting providers and platforms on takedowns.
- Preventive advice: registering key domains and trademarks before launch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is cybersquatting?
Cybersquatting is registering a domain name identical or confusingly similar to someone else's trademark in bad faith, often to sell it back, divert traffic or impersonate the brand.
Can I recover a .com domain that uses my trademark?
Often, yes. For .com and other generic domains, the UDRP procedure allows a trademark owner to seek transfer of a domain registered and used in bad faith, without full court proceedings.
What about .ae domain names?
Disputes over .ae domains follow the UAE's own .ae domain dispute resolution policy, which applies similar principles of rights, legitimate interest and bad faith.