What You Will Find Here
Domain Magistrate is a reference library for parties, counsel, and researchers working on trademark-related domain disputes. The site was built during the early ICANN UDRP era to make public records easier to read than raw registrar logs alone. New visitors can start with the UDRP Three Elements Guide, a step-by-step explanation of what complainants must prove under ICANN policy. Use the Searches section to locate decisions and docket entries by name or keyword. The FAQ pages explain how the UDRP process differs from earlier Network Solutions dispute policies, including how providers are chosen and what remedies a panel may order. Policy and Rules pages summarize ICANN-approved procedures that still frame most .com, .net, and .org complaints today. The Providers page lists approved dispute resolution organizations such as WIPO and NAF. Sample pleadings and decision files show how complainants and respondents presented their arguments in real cases.

Featured UDRP Decisions
The celebrity cases highlighted below are published examples from WIPO and the National Arbitration Forum. They involve well-known marks where a third party registered a confusingly similar domain without authorization. Each decision file opens as a Word document (.doc) so you can review the panel's reasoning on bad-faith registration and legitimate interest. When you finish reading an example, return to the navigation bar to explore additional decisions or open Contact Us if you need help locating a specific record.

Celine Dion:
Recording artist Celine Dion filed a UDRP complaint over CELINEDION.COM, which had been registered by a third party without her authorization. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) served as the dispute resolution provider. Read the full panel decision here: CELINEDION.doc

Russell Simmons:
Entrepreneur and recording artist Russell Simmons challenged registration of WWW.PHATFARMCLUB.COM through a UDRP proceeding at the National Arbitration Forum (NAF). The panel reviewed whether the registrant lacked rights or legitimate interests and acted in bad faith. View the decision: PHATFARMCLUB.doc

Tina Turner:
Tina Turner sought return of WWW.TINATURNER.NET after an unauthorized registration. NAF appointed a panel under the UDRP and issued a written decision addressing trademark rights and domain use. Open the decision document: TINATURNERNET.doc

Before you register a domain, check whether a similar trademark is already on file with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). A free trademark search is available at www.uspto.gov.

Before you pay to register a domain and build a website, confirm whether another party may claim trademark rights in the name you want. Thomson and Thomson offers trademark clearance searches that can help answer those questions.