• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Adlex Solicitors

UK internet and domain name lawyers

Call us now: 0207 317 8404   Email us now

Request Callback

We are operating normally during the COVID-19 crisis and are here to help

  • Home
  • What We Do
    • Website and App Terms & Conditions
    • Privacy and GDPR
      • Intro
      • Privacy Policies
      • Cookies and GDPR
    • Contracts
      • Intro
      • Website / App Design and Development Contracts
      • Web Hosting Contracts
      • White Label and Content Distribution Contracts
      • SEO Contracts
      • Internet Affiliate, Advertising and Marketing Contracts
    • Disputes
      • Intro
      • Domain Name Disputes and Cybersquatting
        • Introductory Guide to Domain Name Disputes
        • UDRP
        • Nominet’s DRS
        • Cybersquatting
        • Domain Name Hijacking
        • Domain Name Law
        • Domain Names and Trade Marks / Passing Off
        • Adlex’s Domain Name Legal Expertise
        • Free Legal Opinion
      • Online Copyright Infringement
      • Internet Trade Mark Infringement and Passing Off
    • Content Removal
      • Intro
      • Removal From Google Search Results
      • Removal From Facebook and Other Social Media
      • Removal From Websites
      • Internet Defamation
      • Right to be Forgotten
  • Who We Are
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
Home  ›  What We Do  ›  Disputes  ›  Domain Name Disputes and Cybersquatting  ›  Domain Name Hijacking

Domain Hijacking

What is domain hijacking?

We use the term to mean a situation where a third party (“hijacker”) gains control of a domain name by unauthorised means. This is literally domain theft. The hijacker deliberately steals a domain name from its existing owner. And moves it to a new registrar. The hijacker has most likely committed a criminal offence.

It is different to where someone registers a domain name to target a competitor. The competitor may of course be aggrieved. And it may well have a case to recover the domain name. See domain name disputes. But this is not “hijacking” in the criminal sense of the word.

How common is domain theft?

Domain theft happens more often than you might think. Usually the hijacker gains control of the stolen domain by somehow finding out the domain registrant’s password for the stolen domain name. Perhaps the domain owner has used the password for other online services, which have become compromised.

How can you recover a stolen domain name?

Our aim when acting as lawyers for domain hijack victims is to make a strong approach to the relevant domain authority / registrar / reseller. And to persuade them to hand back the domain name without the need for expensive legal action. The domain bodies tend to be worried about their legal liability for taking the domain away from the new owner. Our role often involves putting forward a comprehensive and compelling legal and factual submission. Which is designed to convince them to return the hijacked domain name without court.

Reverse domain name hijacking

Domain name hijacking should not be confused with “reverse domain name hijacking”. This a very particular scenario which crops up in certain domain arbitration systems. The word “reverse” is important. By making such a statement, the arbitrator is criticizing the behaviour of a complainant, i.e., not a domain registrant. For example, the arbitrator may think that the losing complainant knew that its case was hopeless. Or perhaps that it had concealed evidence.  Or that the complaint otherwise somehow acted in bad faith in filing its complaint.

Need legal assistance?

We are expert domain name dispute solicitors – click to find out more about our legal expertise. Or contact us for a free initial legal opinion!

Domain Expertise  Free Opinion

Primary Sidebar

  • Website and App Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy and GDPR
    • Intro
    • Privacy Policies
    • Cookies and GDPR
  • Contracts
    • Intro
    • Website / App Design and Development Contracts
    • Web Hosting Contracts
    • White Label and Content Distribution Contracts
    • SEO Contracts
    • Internet Affiliate, Advertising and Marketing Contracts
  • Disputes
    • Intro
    • Domain Name Disputes and Cybersquatting
      • Introductory Guide to Domain Name Disputes
      • UDRP
      • Nominet’s DRS
      • Cybersquatting
      • Domain Name Hijacking
      • Domain Name Law
      • Domain Names and Trade Marks / Passing Off
      • Adlex’s Domain Name Legal Expertise
      • Free Legal Opinion
    • Online Copyright Infringement
    • Internet Trade Mark Infringement and Passing Off
  • Content Removal
    • Intro
    • Removal From Google Search Results
    • Removal From Facebook and Other Social Media
    • Removal From Websites
    • Internet Defamation
    • Right to be Forgotten

Blog Categories

  • Domain Name Disputes
  • Internet Content Removal
  • Online Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy and GDPR

Twitter

  • Twitter

Recent Blog Posts

  • Moving Services Online to Beat Social Distancing
  • Guidance on Designing your Website / App for Children’s Privacy
  • Helping Google “Forget” – Removing Convictions from the Web
  • 10 Top Tips for Writing a Domain Dispute Complaint

How Adlex Solicitors Can Help You

For a free initial chat, call Adam of Adlex now on 0207 317 8404 or request a callback or email.

  • Home
  • Sitemap
  • Website Terms of Use
  • Privacy and Cookies Policy
  • Complaints

© Adlex Solicitors 2001 - 2022. Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA number 344672).