PROCESS

Who we are

The website address is disputes.gg

Process

We have provided the following:
CIDD GUIDE FOR COMPLAINANTS
CIDD GUIDE FOR RESPONDENTS
CIDD EXAMPLE COMPLAINT
CIDD EXAMPLE RESPONSE

PROCEDURES (Revised as at 2025)
All Communication shall be made in English.
CIDD provides Domain Dispute resolution services.

1. The Complaint
   1.1. Any person or entity may submit a complaint to us in accordance with the CIDD Policy and this Procedure.
   1.2. More than one person or entity may jointly make a complaint.
   Where this occurs the joint Complainants must be part of the same corporate group and must:
   1.2.1. all sign the hard copy of the complaint (or have it signed on their behalf);
   1.2.2. specify one of the Complainants, or a single representative, who will be the ‘lead Complainant’ who will receive correspondence on behalf of all the Complainants and is entitled to act on behalf of them all (e.g. in Informal Mediation); and
   1.2.3. specify which Complainant the Complainants wish to become the sole registrant of each Domain Name(s), if the Complainants are successful (this does not bind the Adjudicator).
   1.3. The Complainant must send the complaint to Registry using the online electronic forms on our web site (except to the extent not available for attachments or if other exceptional circumstances apply, in which case hard copies may be sent as an alternative).
   1.4. The complaint shall:-
   1.4.1. not exceed 5000 words (not including the text exclusions set out below and annexes). This shall be provided in Word format or similar (i.e. Open-Source Word Processor) format or plain text but shall not be password protected;
   1.4.2. be limited to 20 pages of annexes save where the Registry has given permission for additional pages of annexes and paid the relevant fee (being £5 per additional page).
   1.4.3. specify whether the Complainant wishes to be contacted direct or through an authorised representative, and set out the email address, telephone number, fax number and postal address which should be used;
   1.4.4. set out any of the Respondent’s contact details which are known to the Complainant and specify the steps taken to verify those addresses and whether communication to those addresses have been acknowledged by the Respondent;
   1.4.5. specify the Domain Name and the name or mark which is identical or similar to the Domain Name and in which the Complainant asserts it has Rights;
   1.4.6. describe in accordance with the Policy the grounds on which the complaint is made including in particular
   1.4.6.1. what Rights the Complainant asserts in the name or mark;
   1.4.6.2. why the Domain Name should be considered to be infringing
   1.4.6.3. why the Domain Name should be considered to be an Abusive Registration in the hands of the Respondent;
   1.4.6.4. any other applicable aspects of the policy as well as any other grounds which support the Complainant’s assertion;
   1.4.7. specify whether the Complainant is seeking to have the Domain Name transferred, suspended, cancelled or otherwise amended;
   1.4.8. specify whether any legal proceedings have been commenced or terminated or otherwise discontinued or determined in connection with the Domain Name;
   1.4.9. state that the Complainant will submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Alderney or Guernsey courts with respect to any legal proceedings relating the CIDD process or otherwise seeking to appeal, reverse or otherwise challenge the effect of a Decision requiring the suspension, cancellation, transfer or other amendment to a Domain Name registration,
   1.4.10. state that the Complainant will not submit the registry or the adjudicator to any claim for damages or legal costs whatsoever;
   1.4.11. state that the Complainant will submit to exclusively English law;
   1.4.12. conclude with the following statement followed by the signature of the Complainant or its authorised representative:-
   “The Complainant agrees that its claims and remedies concerning the registration of the Domain Name, the dispute, or the dispute’s resolution shall be solely against the Respondent and that neither the registry nor its directors, officers, employees or servants nor any Adjudicator or adjudicator shall be liable for anything done or omitted in connection with any proceedings under the CIDD Service unless the act or omission is shown to have been in bad faith.
   The information contained in this complaint is to the best of the Complainant’s knowledge true, uberimmae fides and complete and this complaint is not being presented in bad faith and the matters stated in this complaint comply with the Procedure and applicable law.
   1.4.13. The Complaint agrees to abide by the Registry’s Domain Dispute Rules and Regulations.
   1.5. The Complainant has the burden of proving its case and therefore:
   1.5.1. It is recommended that the Complaint deals with potential defences such as fair use. (Where it appears to the adjudicator that fair use arises, or where the Complainant avers that there is bad faith registration but there are legitimate grounds for registration such that bad faith in registration is not automatic, then the Complaint should deal with this).
   1.5.2. It is recommended that the Complaint attach (as exhibits) copies of any written documentary or other evidence on which the Complainant relies including correspondence and summaries of any trade mark registration and/or summary evidence of use of or reputation in a name or mark, together with an index of the material attached.
   1.6. The complaint may relate to more than one Domain Name, provided that those Domain Names are registered in the name of the Respondent and are similar in IP terms and in the same registrant name(See Fees section of disputes.gg and disputes.je)
   1.7. If the Complainant does not pay the applicable fee within the time limit, we will deem the complaint to be withdrawn. In such event, the Complainant shall not be prevented from submitting a different complaint to us.
   1.8. Once the Complainant fee is paid, we will appoint the Adjudicator, we will notify the Parties of the name of the Adjudicator appointed.
   
2. Notification of Complaint and Responses
   2.1. The Registry administration will check that the complaint complies with the CIDD Policy and this Procedure and, if so, Registry will forward it to the Respondent together with Registry explanatory coversheet within seven (7) Days of Registry receipt of the complaint.
   2.2. If Registry find that the complaint does not comply with the Policy and this Procedure, Registry will promptly notify the Complainant of the deficiencies Registry have identified. The Complainant shall have seven (7) Days from receipt of notification within which to correct the deficiencies and return the complaint to us, but no further detail may be added and if such Complaint is not submitted duly corrected, the complaint to be withdrawn and the fee forfeit. This will not prevent the Complainant submitting a different complaint to us but a new fee will be payable.
   2.3. Proceedings under CIDD will commence on the earliest date upon which the complaint is deemed to have been received by the Respondent in accordance with this Policy.
   2.4. Registry will promptly notify the Parties of the date of commencement of such proceedings.
   2.5. Registry communications will be by sending the complaint to the Parties by using, in Registry discretion, any of the following means:
   2.5.1. sending the complaint by first class post, fax or email to the Parties at the contact details shown on the Complaint or as the registrant or other contacts in Registry domain name register database entry for the Domain Name;
   2.5.2. sending the complaint in electronic form (including attachments to the extent available in that form) by email to postmaster@, Webmaster@ and admin@ or any e-mail address provided to the Registry; or
   2.5.3. if the Domain Name resolves to an active web page (other than a generic page which Registry conclude is maintained by a registrar for parking Domain Names), to any email address shown or email links on that web page so far as this is practicable; or
   2.5.4. sending the complaint to any addresses provided to us by the Parties so far as this is practicable.
   2.5.5. (optionally as additional notification) SMS message to any mobile phone number provided, VOIP or IM address provided).
   2.5.6. Registry may provide until Respondent responds, the Complaint on the CIDD Pages of the Registry.
   
3. Except as set out herein, all written communication to a Party or a Party’s representative under the Policy or this Procedure shall be made to the Registry and by fax, first class post or email. Email communications should be sent in plain text so far as this is practicable.
   
4. The Respondent
   4.1. Within the time limit shall submit a response to us together
   4.2. Within the time limit shall pay the relevant Contested Dispute Fee or any deposit or bond as specified by the Registry (if any);
   4.3. The Respondent must send the response to us using the online electronic forms on Registry web site (except to the extent not available for attachments or if other exceptional circumstances apply, in which case hard copies may be sent as an alternative) or by written submission but where written submission is made, the Complaint must include an electronic version.
   4.4. The response should:
   4.4.1. not exceed 5000 words (not including annexes).This shall be provided in Word format or Open Office format or plain text and shall not be password protected;
   4.4.2. exhibits shall not exceed 20 pages. (Additional exhibits are charged at £5 per exhibit page).
   4.4.3. include any grounds the Respondent wishes to rely upon to rebut the Complainant’s assertions including any relevant factors set out in the Policy;
   4.4.4. specify whether the Respondent wishes to be contacted direct or through an authorised representative, and set out the email address, telephone number, fax number and postal address which should be used;
   4.4.5. specify whether any legal proceedings have been commenced or terminated or otherwise discontinued or determined in connection with the Domain Name;
   4.4.6. state that the Respondent will submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Alderney or Guernsey courts with respect to any legal proceedings relating the CIDD process or otherwise seeking to appeal, reverse or otherwise challenge the effect of a Decision requiring the suspension, cancellation, transfer or other amendment to a Domain Name registration*
   4.4.7. state that the Respondent will not submit the registry or the adjudicator to any claim for damages or legal costs whatsoever. 4.4.8. state that the Respondent will submit to exclusively English law
   4.4.9. conclude with the following statement followed by the signature of the Respondent or its authorised representative:-
   “The Respondent agrees that its claims and remedies concerning the registration of the Domain Name, the dispute, or the dispute’s resolution shall be solely against the Respondent and that neither the registry nor its directors, officers, employees or servants nor any Adjudicator or adjudicator shall be liable for anything done or omitted in connection with any proceedings under the CIDD Service unless the act or omission is shown to have been in bad faith. The information contained in this response is to the best of the Respondent’s knowledge true uberimmae-fides and complete and is not being presented in bad faith and the matters stated in this complaint comply with the Procedure and applicable law.The Respondent agrees to abide by the Registry’s Domain Dispute Rules and Regulations.
   If the Adjudicator orders a transfer of the Domain Name(s) then I agree to be bound by Registry’s Terms and Conditions for the Registration of Domain Names, and in particular the provisions relating to registry’s processing of personal data.”
   4.4.10. Any written documentary or other evidence on which the Respondent relies including correspondence and any trade mark registration and/or evidence of use of or reputation in a name or mark, together with an index of the material attached should be annexed accordingly.
   4.5. Non-Response by Registrant/Non-Payment by Registrant
   If the Respondent does not submit a response or has been requested to pay the Contested Dispute Fee and does not pay the Contested Dispute Fee or place an acceptable bond, Registry will notify the Parties.
   
5. Reply by the Complainant
   5.1. Within the relevant time limit , the Complainant may submit to us a reply to the Respondent’s response, which shall not exceed 2000 words (not including annexes limited to 10 pages). If a reply is submitted it must be submitted as far as possible in electronic form using Registry online forms, unless exceptional circumstances apply in which case the reply may be submitted to us in hard copy (including three copies of all annexes). If the Complainant does not submit a reply to us within seven (7) Calendar Days submissions are deemed closed.
   5.2. Any reply by the Complainant must be restricted solely to matters which are newly raised in the Respondent’s response and were not raised in the Complainant’s complaint as originally submitted to us.
   5.3. If the reply extends to other matters, the Adjudicator may declare it inadmissible to the extent that it deals with matters going beyond those newly raised in the Respondent’s response or may rule the entire response as inadmissible.
   
6. Response to Reply
   6.1. To the extent that the Adjudicator intends to take note of any new material, the Adjudicator shall invite the Respondent to file a further submission in response to that material and only that material (either by formal response such further submission shall not exceed 2000 words (not including annexes limited to 10 pages) or by Point of Clarification (limited usually to 4 pages unless otherwise stated).
   6.2. Reponses which are considered to be re-argument rather than point of clarification or new evidence will be rejected without notice.
   6.3. Responses, except for clarification, may not include material available at the time of the Complaint.
   
7. Close of pleadings
   7.1. Upon close of submissions, the Adjudicator shall shortly thereafter and in the absence of exceptional circumstances, provide adjudication
   7.2. Where the Respondent has not replied (or where applicable, paid the relevant fee), only the Complainant’s submission and public information will be considered.
   7.3. The appointed Adjudicator shall only grant an application for a summary decision if the conditions set out in the Policy are satisfied and the complainant is deemed to have clearly proven each aspect of their case and evidenced why any applicable defence should not apply.

CIDD March 2025