.uk domain disputes fell slightly in 2016: Nominet

The number of disputes over .uk domain names fell slightly in 2016, according to a report by Nominet.

Nominet, the manager of the .uk namespace, handled a total of 703 disputes in 2016 in its dispute resolution centre (DRS), a reduction of 25 from the previous year.

The DRS was established in 2001 and seeks to settle disputes through mediation and, if not possible, through an independent expert decision.

Almost 12,000 complaints have been made to the DRS since 2001.

More than half of these disputes were resolved between the parties through mediation, according to the report.

It added that cases mediated by Nominet took an average of 47 days to resolve in 2016, compared with 41 days in 2015, and 47 days in 2014. 

“While only a small proportion of domain names of the .uk register resulted in a dispute in 2016, the DRS continues to provide an efficient and cost-effective way of resolving those that do arise,” said Russell Haworth, Nominet’s chief executive.

Brands such as Facebook, Jaguar, Virgin and  JD Sports used the service last year, while cases were brought by complainants from 28 countries, with respondents from 35 countries.

One such complaint was brought by charity British Red Cross, over the domain britishredcross.org.uk.

The charity argued that the unauthorised use of the ‘Red Cross’ name is a criminal offence under the Geneva Conventions Act 1957.

No response to the complaint was submitted, and a summary decision awarded the transfer of the domain name to the charity.