Model Response and Filing Guidelines

The WIPO Center has prepared Model Responses intended to serve as guides for the preparation of a Response under the Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (Rules) and WIPO Supplemental Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (Supplemental Rules). The WIPO Center makes available two sets of model Responses, which are discussed below.

The first may be used by Respondents filing their UDRP Response with WIPO in electronic form only (eUDRP Response), such facility being available at WIPO from December 14, 2009. The second should be used for those cases in which a Respondent (also) elects to file their Response and/or any annexes in hard copy, which is an option available until February 28, 2010.

Filing Your UDRP Response with WIPO in Electronic Form Only (eUDRP)

As of December 14, 2009, WIPO UDRP Parties may choose to file a Response (or Responses) including all annexes solely by electronic format. These may be submitted by email to domain.disputes@wipo.int. For Responses filed in electronic-only format, reference is made to the modified Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy, and to the modified WIPO Supplemental Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy, which provide relevant guidance as to applicable format modalities. In order to facilitate filing of you electronic-only UDRP (eUDRP) pleading with the WIPO Center, the following options are available:

Please note that the use of the above methods is optional. You may also prepare and submit the Response without using these facilities, (until February 28, 2010) in hard copy. From March 1, 2010, submission of your Response in complete electronic form (including all annexes) will become mandatory.

Using the model Response as a basis for the preparation of a party's submission does not preclude the possibility of an Administrative Panel requesting the Respondent for additional information. In addition, it does not guarantee a Respondent's success on the merits.

In filing your UDRP Response with the WIPO Center in electronic form only:

  • Submit the Response (including all annexes) to the WIPO Center as an attachment(s) to an e-mail sent to domain.disputes@wipo.int. The attachment(s) should be submitted as a Word document, Word Perfect document, PDF file, text file or RTF file.
  • Copy the above e-mail to the Complainant in accordance with the contact details specified by the Complainant in the Complaint;
  • There is no need to send the Response to the concerned registrar(s).
  • The Response and all annexes should be submitted electronically, taking guidance as to file size and format modalities as specified in Annex E of the WIPO Supplemental Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy. (The latter will become mandatory for all UDRP Responses filed with WIPO from March 1, 2010.)
  • If the Respondent is required to make a payment, inform the Center as to how the payment is being made.

Filing Your UDRP Response with WIPO in Hard Copy
(under the original UDRP Rules)

If you should choose to file your UDRP Response (or any annexes) with WIPO in hard copy (an option that is available up to February 28, 2010), you may do so using the below methods, in accordance with the Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy, as approved on October 24, 1999, and the WIPO Supplemental Rules, in effect as of December 1, 1999:

  • Submit the Response to the WIPO Center as an attachment to an e-mail sent to domain.disputes@wipo.int. The attachment should be submitted as a Word document, Word Perfect document, PDF file, text file or RTF file. Annexes to the Response that are not available in electronic format may be submitted in hard copy only.
  • Copy the above e-mail to the Complainant in accordance with the contact details specified by the Complainant in the Complaint;
  • If applicable, send a signed original and four copies of the Response by postal mail or courier service with return receipt requested to (including any attachments not available in electronic format):

    WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center
    34 chemin des Colombettes
    1211 Geneva 20
    Switzerland

    Tel.: (+41 22) 338 8247 or 0800 888549
    Fax: (+41 22) 740 3700 or 0800 888550

  • If applicable, send a copy of the Response and all attachments by postal mail or courier service with return receipt requested to the Complainant in accordance with the contact details indicated by the Complainant in the Complaint;
  • There is no need to send the Response to the concerned registrar(s).
  • If the Respondent is required to make a payment and that payment is being submitted by check, the check should be sent to the Center with the hardcopies. If the payment is not being made by check, then the Respondent should inform the Center as to how payment is being made.

Additional information

The following documents should be consulted in connection with preparing and filing a Complaint:

  • UDRP Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP Policy)
  • UDRP Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP Rules)
  • Modified UDRP Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP Rules)
  • WIPO Supplemental Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy
  • Modified WIPO Supplemental Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy

Parties may also wish to consult the Legal Index of WIPO UDRP Panel Decisions and WIPO Overview of WIPO Panel Views on Selected UDRP Questions.

Questions concerning the filing requirements may be sent by e-mail to arbiter.mail@wipo.int.

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