The auDRP (.au Dispute Resolution Policy) is auDA’s fast, cheaper alternative to court for getting back a .au domain that someone registered or used in bad faith. If you win, the domain is transferred to you or cancelled. It can’t award damages, and it won’t help if the other person has a genuine right to the name.
Key takeaways
- auDRP covers .au names only, including .com.au, .net.au and .au direct. Names like .com use a different policy.
- You must prove three things: the name matches yours, the holder has no legitimate interest and it was registered or used in bad faith.
- Provider fees start at $2,000 for a single-member panel, paid by the person complaining.
- Of 54 disputes lodged in 2024–25, 44% ended in a transfer and 22% in cancellation.
What is the auDRP?
The auDRP is a policy every .au domain holder agrees to when they register. It lets someone with rights in a name challenge a .au domain without going to court. auDA doesn’t decide disputes itself. Complaints go to one of two approved providers: the Resolution Institute or the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (auDA).
It’s based on the international UDRP used for .com names, with one key Australian difference, covered below.
What do you have to prove in an auDRP complaint?
The person complaining carries the burden of proof. Under the policy, they must show all three of these (auDRP policy):
- The domain is identical or confusingly similar to a name, trade mark or service mark you have rights in. For auDRP, “name” includes your registered company or business name and your personal name.
- The holder has no rights or legitimate interests in the domain.
- The domain was registered or later used in bad faith.
So you don’t need a registered trade mark to complain. A registered business name can be enough.
What counts as bad faith?
The policy lists examples a panel can treat as evidence of bad faith:
- registering the name mainly to sell or rent it to you for more than it cost
- registering it to stop you using your own name or mark as a domain
- registering it mainly to disrupt your business
- using it to attract visitors for profit by making people think it’s connected to you
- giving false or misleading eligibility details when registering or renewing.
Here’s the Australian difference. Under the international UDRP, the name must have been registered and used in bad faith (ICANN). Under auDRP, registration or later use in bad faith is enough. A name registered innocently but later used to mislead your customers can still be challenged.
What can’t auDRP do for you?
auDRP has firm limits:
- No money. The only remedies are transfer or cancellation. There are no damages and no refund of your costs.
- No transfer unless you’re eligible. You only get the name if you meet the .au rules for it. Otherwise it may simply be cancelled and released.
- No help against a genuine rival. If another business has traded under a similar name in good faith, it has a legitimate interest. That’s a fair-use clash, not squatting.
- No eligibility complaints. If you think the holder simply isn’t eligible for a .au name, that complaint goes to their registrar, not to auDRP.
Lost a name because it lapsed? If someone picked it up after release, they may have done nothing wrong. Our guide to an expired domain bought by someone else explains the options in that case.
How does the auDRP process work?
The registrar waits 10 business days before acting on a decision, in case either side goes to court. auDA says most decisions are made within three months (auDA blog).
How much does an auDRP complaint cost?
The provider fees are set out in the policy, in Australian dollars:
| Panel size | 1 to 5 domains | 6 to 10 domains |
|---|---|---|
| Single member | $2,000 | $2,700 |
| Three members | $4,500 | $5,700 |
The complainant pays these fees. If you choose a single-member panel and the holder asks for three, the cost is split. Legal help to prepare the complaint is extra, and you won’t get it back even if you win.
How often do auDRP complaints succeed?
auDA’s 2024–25 annual report records 54 auDRP disputes, up 13% on the year before. In 44% of cases the domain was transferred to the complainant, and in 22% it was cancelled. Another 15% were denied or dismissed, and 19% carried over into the next year (auDA Annual Report 2024–25).
Well-prepared complaints often succeed, but the small numbers suggest most domain problems are solved another way.
What should you try before filing?
- Check who holds it. A .au WHOIS lookup shows the registrant’s name and eligibility details, such as their ABN.
- Look at how it’s used. Screenshot the website, any “for sale” page and anything that copies your brand. Date everything.
- Ask politely. Some holders will sell or transfer for a reasonable price. Our guide on how to buy a domain that’s taken covers how to approach it safely.
- Get advice. A trade mark or IP lawyer can tell you quickly whether you meet all three tests.
- File only with strong evidence. A weak complaint wastes money and time.
How do you stop domain squatting before it starts?
Prevention is cheaper than any dispute. Register the obvious versions of your name, including the .au direct match. Keep every domain in your own business’s name, and never let one lapse. If one does lapse, act fast: our expired domain recovery page explains what to do during the grace period.
The simplest step is to register your domain with WMS alongside your website, so names, renewals and DNS sit in one place. If a dispute or lookalike site is affecting your website or email, our website support team can help you sort out the technical side while you deal with the legal one.
Frequently asked questions
Does auDRP apply to .com domains?
No. auDRP only covers .au names, such as .com.au, .net.au, .org.au and .au direct. Disputes over .com and most other global domains go through the international UDRP, which has its own providers and rules, including the stricter test of registration and use in bad faith.
Can I get compensation through auDRP?
No. A panel can only order the domain to be transferred to you or cancelled. It can’t award damages or costs. If you’ve lost money because of the domain, for example through misleading conduct, you’d need legal advice about court action.
Do I need a trade mark to win an auDRP complaint?
Not necessarily. auDRP recognises your company or business name registered with the relevant Australian government authority, and your personal name, as well as trade marks. A registered trade mark still makes your case stronger and protects your brand more widely.
How long does an auDRP dispute take?
auDA says most decisions are made within three months. The panel must decide within 14 days of being appointed, and the registrar then waits 10 business days before acting, in case either side goes to court. Preparing a strong complaint beforehand takes time too.
Someone registered my business name as a .au domain. Is that squatting?
Not always. If they have a genuine business with a similar name, they likely have a legitimate interest. It’s squatting when they have no real connection to the name and registered or used it to profit from you, block you or confuse your customers.
Sources
- The auDRP process, auDA
- .au Dispute Resolution Policy (auDRP) (2016-01), auDA
- Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy, ICANN
- Unpacking the .au Dispute Resolution Policy, auDA, July 2023
- Annual Report 2024–25, auDA