On 1 November 2024, the .UA Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UA-DRP) became applicable to additional third-level domain zones: <.ORG.UA>, <.KM.UA>, <.KHMELNYTSKYI.UA>, <.KHMELNITSKIY.UA>, <.RV.UA>, <.RIVNE.UA>, and <.ROVNO.UA>. Trademark owners can now address disputes related to these domains through the UA-DRP framework.

Even though all the above-mentioned domain zones are either city/region specific or initially designated for domain names used by organizations (<.ORG.UA>), they are available to both individuals and organizations. The registration is quick and the registrant does not need to provide any evidence that they are acting on behalf of an organization.

The UA-DRP, administered by the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center, offers a mechanism similar to the Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (UDRP) for resolving domain name disputes. For a complaint to be successful, the complainant must demonstrate that:

• The domain name is identical or confusingly similar to the complainant’s trademark;

• The registrant has no rights or legitimate interests with respect to the domain name; and

• The domain name was registered or is being used in bad faith.

The remedies available to the complainant are the domain name cancellation or its transfer to the complainant.

Since it entered into force on 19 March 2019, the UA-DRP has significantly expanded its applicability. Initially covering second-level domain names under the .UA country-code top-level domain (ccTLD), it was extended to the .COM.UA third-level domain in December 2019, adding eight third-level domains in May 2021 and more than 20 third-level domains in February 2024. The recent inclusion of additional third-level domains reflects ongoing efforts to enhance the protection of intellectual property rights within Ukraine’s domain name system.

Since the UA-DRP became effective, the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center considered almost 90 cases, including 12 cases in 2024.

Source: WIPO website