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Q&A: domain name expiration and the UDRP

  • Domain names are registered for a period of between 1 and 10 years, via a contract with the applicable Top Level Domain registry; a typical registration is for one year.
  • When a domain name registration expires, it may be auctioned off, or may be available on a first-come first-served basis depending on the registry and registrar policies.
  • First, determine the registrar for the domain name using ICANN’s Registration Data Lookup Tool.
  • This ICANN search tool will indicate the relevant registrar, and may provide an expiration date. But because registrars may have different policies regarding the renewal of a domain name, it is important that you go to the registrar directly to find out the expiration date using their WHOIS or RDS (Registration Directory Service) tool.
  • The WHOIS or RDS (Registration Directory Service) output from the registrar will tell you the expiration date, and also the domain name “status” e.g., “RedemptionPeriod”, “PendingDelete”, or “autoRenewPeriod”. For more information on these status codes, see ICANN’s EPP Status Codes page.
  • If the domain name has already expired, you may wish to contact the registrar to determine whether the domain name may be available for purchase. This would be strictly a matter for you to explore with the registrar and WIPO has no role to play here.
  • Yes, you can still file your UDRP case.
  • Paragraph 3.7.5.7 of the ICANN Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA) says that where “a domain [name] which is the subject of a UDRP dispute is deleted or expires during the course of the dispute, the Complainant in the UDRP dispute will have the option to renew or restore the name under the same commercial terms as the registrant.”
  • When a UDRP case is filed, the registrar will lock the domain name from changes to the named registrant, and will confirm the expiration date to WIPO.
  • If the domain name will expire during the UDRP case (e.g., within the next 2 to 3 months), under paragraph 3.7.5.7 of the RAA, one of the parties (typically the complainant) must renew the registration.
  • It is the parties’ responsibility to make sure that any registrar fees are paid. Failure to pay the renewal fees may result in the dismissal of your complaint; please also note that WIPO’s case processing fee is not refundable once the complaint is registered in our system.
  • You may consult the ICANN Expired Domain Deletion Policy for more details.
  • Generally no, it is not possible to file a UDRP complaint if a domain name has already expired.
  • Registrars sometimes have different timelines for a domain name expiration and deletion lifecycle.
  • If the domain name is still in the “RedemptionPeriod” and has not moved to “PendingDelete” status, it may be possible to still file a UDRP case in certain limited circumstances.
  • If a domain name has already expired but has not yet been “deleted”, you can contact the registrar to see whether it may be able to renew the domain name – on the registrar’s commercial terms – for purposes of filing a UDRP complaint.
  • If the registrar allows the renewal of the domain name to allow the proceedings to commence, WIPO can accept your complaint.
  • If the domain name has already been deleted, you may be able to purchase the domain name directly from the registrar, or using a backorder service.
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