Domain name disputes in Australia

All domain name licences issued or renewed for all Namespaces from 1 August 2002 are subject to a mandatory administrative proceeding under the auDRP.

Namespace means:

.au, com.au, net.au, org.au, asn.au, id.au, edu.au, qld.edu.au, nsw.edu.au, eq.edu.au, act.edu.au, vic.edu.au, sa.edu.au, wa.edu.au, nt.edu.au, catholic.edu.au, schools.nsw.edu.au, education.tas.edu.au, tas.edu.au, sa.au, wa.au, nt.au, qld.au, nsw.au, vic.au, tas.au and act.au or as varied from time to time by auDA.

1. You can lodge your complaint and submissions and pay the relevant administrative fee using the links below.
2. Resolution Institute will assess your complaint to ensure it complies with the auDRP, auDA's Rules and Resolution Institute's Supplemental Rules 
3. If there are any deficiencies in your complaint, Resolution Institute will notify you and you will have five calendar days to rectify this. However, please note that under the auDRP, if you’re not able to respond in this timeframe, the complaint will be deemed to be withdrawn without prejudice and can be re-submitted at a later time.
4. Once your complaint is complete and the fee has been paid, Resolution Institute will commence the dispute resolution process. The disputed domain name will be ‘frozen’ until a decision has been reached.
5. Resolution Institute will notify the registrant of the domain name of the complaint and the registrant will have 20 calendar days from this date to lodge a response.
6. Resolution Institute will then appoint a panel to decide the complaint. You can elect to have the matter decided by a single member or three member panel in your complaint. If you elect a single member panel, the registrant will have the option to elect to have the dispute decided by a three member Panel in its response.
7. The Panel will have 14 calendar days to reach and provide a written decision. Once the Panel has reached a decision, Resolution Institute will forward it to both parties, the Registrar and auDA.
8. If the complaint is dismissed the domain name will be unlocked and returned to the respondent. If the complaint is upheld and the domain name is to be cancelled or transferred, the Registrar of the domain name will implement the decision.

Panel decisions under the auDRP are binding on both parties. If an unsuccessful party is not happy with the Panel’s decision, they may still initiate legal proceedings.

For more detailed information on how to file an application under the auDRP and what you should include with your complaint, click here 

To lodge a complaint, please complete the application form found here:  

Lodge a complaint

Please submit your application by email to [email protected] and then proceed to payment.

Submit your Payment

We have the most experienced domain name panellists who can assist in all types of disputes.

If you have selected a single member Panel, Resolution Institute will select a panellist to decide your complaint. However, if either party elects to have the dispute decided by a three-member Panel, each party may suggest three panellists. Resolution Institute will attempt to appoint one panellist from the list of candidates provided by each party, if they are eligible and available, with the third panellist to be appointed by us.

If you’d like more details about any of our panellists listed below, you can click here to use our dispute resolver search directory.

Payment must accompany your complaint. 

For a single member Panel 

For a three-member Panel 

View previous decisions made by Panellists under the auDRP

auDA Decision Archive