Domain Squatting UK: How to Get Your Domain Back

What is domain squatting?

Domain squatting (also called cybersquatting) is when someone registers a domain name that matches or closely resembles your business name, trademark, or brand, typically with no intention of using it legitimately. The goal is usually to sell it back to you at an inflated price, or to divert your customers to their own site.

In the UK, domain squatting is a growing problem. With .co.uk domains costing under 10 pounds per year, the barrier to registering them is extremely low. There is no requirement to prove you have any right to a name before registering it as a domain.

How to tell if you are a victim

Common signs of domain squatting include:

• •Someone owns yourbusinessname.co.uk or yourbusinessname.com but has no legitimate business using that name
• •The domain redirects to a competitor or a generic advertising page
• •The domain owner has contacted you offering to sell the domain
• •The domain was registered shortly after your business started gaining visibility

Recovering a .uk domain via Nominet DRS

For .uk domains (.co.uk, .org.uk, .uk), the Nominet Dispute Resolution Service (DRS) is your primary route. The process works as follows:

1. File a complaint. Submit your case to Nominet explaining why the domain should be transferred to you. You need to show you have "rights" in the name (a trademark, trading name, or personal name) and that the domain is an "abusive registration."

2. Mediation. Nominet first attempts to mediate between you and the domain holder. Many cases are resolved at this stage, especially when the squatter realises you are serious.

3. Expert decision. If mediation fails, an independent expert reviews the case and makes a binding decision. The expert considers whether the domain was registered or used in a way that takes unfair advantage of your rights.

The cost is around 200 pounds plus VAT for mediation, rising to 750 pounds plus VAT if it goes to an expert decision. This is far cheaper than court proceedings.

Recovering a .com domain via UDRP

For .com, .net, and other generic domains, the equivalent process is the Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (UDRP), administered by WIPO or other approved providers.

You must prove three things:

• •The domain is identical or confusingly similar to your trademark or brand
• •The registrant has no legitimate interest in the domain
• •The domain was registered and is being used in bad faith

UDRP cases cost from around 1,500 US dollars and typically take 60 to 90 days.

Prevention is key

The simplest way to avoid domain squatting is to register your key domains early. At minimum, secure the .co.uk and .com versions of your business name. If your name is commonly misspelled, register those variants too.

Run a free brand scan at GuardMyBusiness to check which domains are currently registered using your business name. Our scan covers domain registries alongside Companies House, trademark databases, and web archives, giving you a complete picture in seconds.