Domain squatting, also called cybersquatting, is registering a domain name that matches someone else's brand in order to profit from it: to sell it back at a high price, to catch their visitors, or to impersonate them. This page explains the common forms, how to protect your brand, and what you can do if it happens to you.
Cybersquatting is registering a name that copies someone else's trademark in bad faith. Disputes over .com and other generic extensions go to ICANN's UDRP, and disputes over .in domains go to NIXI's INDRP; both can transfer or cancel the domain. The cheapest protection is to register your trademark and the main variations of your domain before anyone else does. This is general information, not legal advice.
Which policy applies to which extension, how a UDRP, URS or INDRP case runs, what a complainant must prove, and what to do if you receive a complaint are all in Domain dispute resolution. This page is the short version for people searching for "domain squatting".
1. What counts as cybersquatting
Registering a domain is first come, first served. Owning a name that happens to match a word someone else uses is not squatting on its own. It becomes cybersquatting when the name copies a known brand and was registered to take advantage of it.
Watch also for lookalike characters, such as the digit 0 in place of the letter o, or rn in place of m, and for names that add a word like "login", "support" or "offers" to your brand.
2. How to protect your brand
- Register your trademark.A registered mark is the strongest evidence in any dispute. Indian businesses can search and file through India's trademark registry.
- Register the main variations.Secure the .in, .co.in and .com of your brand, and the most obvious misspellings if the name is valuable to you.
- Keep your own domains renewed.An expired domain can be registered by anyone. Pay renewal invoices on time; see how auto-renewal works.
- Secure the account that holds them.Turn on two-factor authentication for your client area, so nobody can move your domains away.
- Watch for lookalikes.Search for your brand name regularly, and check public certificate transparency logs (for example crt.sh) for new SSL certificates issued to names that contain your brand.
3. What to do if someone squats on your name
Collect evidence first: dated screenshots of the website, any "for sale" offer, and any emails that pretend to come from you. Then choose the route:
| Situation | Usual route | What it can achieve |
|---|---|---|
| Generic extension (.com, .net, .org and others) | UDRP complaint to an ICANN-approved provider, such as WIPO | Transfer or cancellation of the domain |
| Newer generic extension, clear-cut abuse | URS complaint | Suspension of the domain only |
| .in or another .in extension | INDRP complaint to NIXI, the .IN registry | Transfer or cancellation of the domain |
| You also want damages or an injunction | A court case, for example for trademark infringement or passing off | Damages, injunctions and other court orders |
Under the UDRP, the complainant must show that the domain is identical or confusingly similar to its trademark, that the registrant has no rights or legitimate interests in it, and that it was registered and is being used in bad faith. The INDRP asks for broadly the same kind of case. Indian courts also treat domain names as business identifiers that can be protected against passing off; the Supreme Court said so in Satyam Infoway v. Sifynet Solutions (2004). In the United States, trademark owners can also sue under the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act.
If a lookalike domain is being used for phishing, malware or fraud right now, report it to the registrar and the hosting provider that hold it, and warn your customers. A dispute takes weeks; an abuse report can stop the damage sooner.
Before you pay a filing fee, take advice from a lawyer who handles trademark or domain disputes. Some owners will also transfer a name after a polite request, which costs far less than a case.
4. If you received a squatting complaint
Don't ignore it. If you miss the deadline, the panel or arbitrator decides on the complainant's evidence alone. Gather proof of why you chose the name and how you have used it, don't try to transfer the domain while the case runs, and keep your WHOIS contact email current so notices reach you. The full checklist is in Domain dispute resolution.
5. Domain India's role
Domain India is a NIXI-accredited .IN registrar. Our terms require registrants to follow ICANN rules for generic extensions, NIXI rules for .in domains, and the UDRP and INDRP. We don't decide disputes or give legal advice. When a provider or arbitrator handles a case about a domain registered with us, we act on its requests and carry out the outcome.
Registering the variations of your brand is inexpensive. At Domain India list prices on 19 September 2026, excluding 18% GST, a .in costs ₹575 to register, .co.in ₹475 and .com ₹1,150.
What is domain squatting?
Domain squatting, or cybersquatting, is registering a domain name that copies someone else's brand or trademark in bad faith, usually to sell it back at a high price, to divert the brand's visitors, or to impersonate the brand.
What is typosquatting?
Typosquatting is a form of cybersquatting that registers misspellings or lookalike versions of a well-known name, so that people who mistype the address land on the squatter's site, which often shows ads or a phishing page.
Is it illegal to register a domain that matches a brand?
Registering a name is not unlawful on its own. It can be challenged when the name copies a trademark and was registered and used in bad faith. Disputes go through the UDRP for generic extensions, the INDRP for .in domains, or the courts.
How do I get back a .in domain that copies my trademark?
File a complaint under the .IN Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (INDRP), which NIXI, the .IN registry, administers. An arbitrator decides the case and can order the domain transferred or cancelled. Take legal advice before filing.
How can I prevent cybersquatting?
Register your trademark, register the main extensions and obvious misspellings of your domain, renew your domains on time, protect your registrar account with two-factor authentication, and watch for lookalike names.
Does Domain India decide domain disputes?
No. Disputes are decided by independent providers or, for .in domains, by an arbitrator appointed by NIXI. Domain India, as the registrar, carries out the outcome and does not give legal advice.
Ready to protect your name? Search your brand's .in, .co.in and .com at domain registration, read Domain dispute resolution if you already face a squatter, or open a support ticket with questions about a domain registered with us.
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