Your domain name is the front door of your business online. It is also one of the most coveted IP assets by cybersquatters. With more than 350 million domain names registered globally and the emergence of blockchain extensions like .eth and .crypto, a structured domain name strategy is now part of every serious brand portfolio.
Reviewed by Nathalie Dreyfus, European trademark and patent attorney. Last updated : May 2026.
Three reasons a portfolio approach to domain names matters.
First-come-first-served. Domain names are allocated on a first-come basis. A delay of a few hours can leave your trademark in the hands of a third party who can demand high prices to release it, or worse, monetise traffic with counterfeit or phishing pages.
Multiplication of extensions. Beyond .com, more than 1,500 generic top-level domains (gTLDs) exist, alongside ccTLDs (.fr, .uk, .de), specialised extensions (.law, .bank, .app), and blockchain extensions (.eth, .crypto, .nft).
Convergence with trademarks. Domain names are signs subject to trademark scrutiny. Conflicts are arbitrated by UDRP and URS procedures, with the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center being the world’s largest provider.
From filing a UDRP complaint to a decision on the merits, the average duration is around 60 days. The decision is enforceable directly against the registrar, with no court intervention required.
Source: WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center, UDRP statistics 2024.
More than 1,500 gTLDs are available for registration, in addition to country-code TLDs and blockchain extensions. Strategic portfolio coverage is essential.
Source: ICANN, gTLD registry, 2025.
UDRP allows transfer or cancellation of an abusive domain after a full procedure. URS is a faster, lower-cost alternative for blatant cases, but only suspends the domain.
Source: ICANN, Uniform Rapid Suspension System and UDRP.
ICANN is preparing the next round of new gTLD applications, scheduled for 2026-2027. Brands have an opportunity to apply for their own .brand extension.
Source: ICANN, New gTLD Program Next Round.
We inventory existing registrations, identify gaps in coverage by extension and geography, and detect typosquatting and lookalike domains held by third parties.
We define which extensions to register defensively (key gTLDs, ccTLDs in priority markets, blockchain extensions), and which to monitor without registering.
Through IPweb, we track new registrations matching your trademark in 1,500+ extensions, with automated alerts and risk scoring.
When abuse is detected, we deploy the right recovery track : UDRP, URS, ccTLD-specific procedures (.fr SYRELI, .de DENIC), back-channel purchase, or court action.
Three legal paths to recover a domain name infringing your rights.
UDRP (Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy). Available for most gTLDs. Three cumulative conditions must be proven : the domain name is identical or confusingly similar to your trademark, the registrant has no legitimate interest, and the domain was registered and used in bad faith. Filing fees from 1,500 USD per case at WIPO.
URS (Uniform Rapid Suspension). A faster, lower-cost mechanism for blatant cases. Outcome is suspension of the domain, not transfer or cancellation. Fees from 375 USD.
National procedures. For ccTLDs, dedicated procedures apply : SYRELI for .fr, ADR for .eu, Nominet DRS for .uk. We file under the applicable framework and coordinate with local counsel where needed.
Negotiation. In some cases, a structured offer to purchase the domain is faster and cheaper than litigation. We handle the negotiation through a trusted intermediary to preserve confidentiality.
Blockchain domains are an emerging asset class. Hosted on Ethereum, Polygon or other chains, they do not rely on ICANN and have their own extensions : .eth (Ethereum Name Service), .crypto, .nft, .wallet, .888 (Unstoppable Domains). They are tradeable as NFTs and increasingly used as Web 3.0 identifiers.
Risks for trademark owners : cybersquatting on blockchain is rampant, with no traditional registrar to whom to send a takedown notice. Enforcement requires court action or marketplace cooperation. Dreyfus runs the first French firm-based monitoring of trademarks on blockchain domain registries and assists clients in defensive registrations, recovery and policy work.
Inventory, gap analysis, defensive registration roadmap across gTLDs, ccTLDs and blockchain.
Filing and representation at WIPO, NAF, ADR.eu, SYRELI, Nominet DRS, CIIDRC.
Monitoring of .eth, .crypto, .nft, .888 and other Web 3.0 extensions.
Confidential back-channel purchase, lease-to-purchase agreements, escrow services.
Application preparation for the 2026-2027 new gTLD round, brand TLD strategy.
DNSSEC, registry lock, registrar selection, account hygiene to prevent hijacking.
UDRP (Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy) is an ICANN-administered proceeding to resolve disputes over abusive domain name registrations. It is faster and cheaper than court litigation. Three conditions must be met : identical or confusingly similar domain, no legitimate interest, bad faith. The most common outcome is transfer of the domain.
About 60 days from filing the complaint to decision. The respondent has 20 days to respond, and a single-member panel decides within 14 days of being constituted. Three-member panels add a few weeks.
WIPO filing fees start at 1,500 USD per case for a single-member panel and one to five domains. Attorney fees vary depending on complexity. URS is cheaper (from 375 USD) but only suspends the domain.
No, UDRP applies only to gTLDs and some ccTLDs that have opted in. For .fr, the dedicated SYRELI procedure (Afnic) applies. We file under SYRELI and coordinate with French case law.
Three steps : defensive registration of key blockchain extensions (.eth, .crypto, .nft, .888), continuous monitoring via specialised tools, and active enforcement against marketplaces selling infringing names. Court action is sometimes necessary for blatant cases.
Possibly. ICANN’s next round of new gTLD applications opens in 2026-2027. A .brand TLD gives you full control over your namespace, enhanced trust and powerful trademark enforcement leverage. We assess feasibility and prepare the application.
