Protecting Your Business Domain Name in a Dispute

Your domain name is one of the most important digital assets your business will ever own. It’s your online identity, your address on the internet and often the first impression customers will have of your brand.

In today’s digital-first world, having the right domain name is critical for visibility, trust, and growth. But with new domains registered every day, disputes over domain names are increasingly common especially when a third party registers a domain that resembles your brand.

In this guide, we explain:

• How to protect your brand through domain name registration
• The differences between domain names and trade marks
• How to respond to a domain name dispute
• Legal remedies available to UK businesses

Why Your Domain Name Matters

Think of your domain name as your virtual shopfront. It communicates your brand, builds trust, and guides customers to your services. A clear, memorable domain boosts credibility and makes it easier for people to find you online.

Failing to secure the right domain names can lead to:

• Customer confusion
• Lost web traffic and sales
• Missed growth opportunities
• Legal and reputational risks

How to Protect Your Brand as a Domain Name

To secure your brand online, the first step is to register your business or trading name as a domain name. When doing so, consider:

• Your current market (e.g., UK)
• Any international expansion plans

For example, a UK business should aim to secure:

• co.uk
• com
• Variants like .net, .org, or country-specific domains (.fr, .de, .es)

Register a .uk domain name via IONOS for free as part of their hosting packages.

Consider Common Misspellings

Many brands also buy typo domains – intentional misspellings of their main domain to:

• Redirect traffic back to the official site
• Prevent “typosquatting” (where third parties register misleading versions to steal traffic or damage a brand)

Example: goggle.com was famously used to target users who mistyped “Google”, redirecting them to malware or advertising scams.

Domain Names vs Trade Marks: What’s the Difference?

While your domain name and trade mark might be the same or similar, they are legally distinct:

Registering a domain does not automatically grant trade mark rights, and vice versa. For full brand protection, you should do both.

Register a trade mark with the UK Intellectual Property Office

What Is a Domain Name Dispute?

A domain name dispute occurs when someone registers a domain that:

• Is identical or confusingly similar to your brand
• Appears to be in bad faith (e.g. to mislead consumers, damage your brand, or sell it back at a high price)

Common motivations behind disputed registrations include:

• Directing traffic to a competing website
• Selling the domain for a profit (cybersquatting)
• Scamming users
• Creating “gripe sites” to damage your brand (often used by ex-customers or ex-employees)