Hijacking & Domain Name Dispute Reporting Process

The document defines domain hijacking as the unauthorized transfer of a domain name and outlines the process for reporting such an incident to Trustname. It explains how Trustname will work with the former owner and the current registrar to attempt to resolve the dispute and return the domain.

Key Takeaways

• Definition and Scope - Domain hijacking occurs when a domain is transferred or ownership changed without authorization; we treat such cases as serious abuse incidents.
• Reporting Procedure - Users should first review ICANN’s Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy and then submit a hijacking or dispute report through our Abuse Report Form.
• Investigation Process - Once we receive a report, we assign a case number, verify previous ownership, and collaborate with the current registrar to help restore the domain.
• Communication and Limitations - We review each case thoroughly but cannot guarantee specific results; communication occurs only if further assistance or details are needed from the complainant.
• Our Responsibility and Compliance - While we maintain domain registration systems, our authority is limited by ICANN and Estonian law; we act only upon valid court orders or official ICANN requests.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Key Takeaways
• Definition
• Your Action Plan
• What Will Happen
• Please Keep In Mind
• Remember

Definition

Domain hijacking, also called domain theft, is the unauthorized transfer of a domain name. It occurs when a domain name is transferred to a new registrar or the ownership information is updated against the owner’s will.

Your Action Plan

Please review the ICANN's Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy  and submit a Hijacking & Domain Name Dispute form to Trustname if needed.

What Will Happen

Upon receipt of such a request via our Abuse Report Form, Trustname will :

1. Respond with a case number.
2. Investigate your complaint.
3. Add the site, category, date, and resolution of your complaint to our internal database. Your personal information will not be recorded there.
4. Confirm that you are the former domain owner.
5. Work with the current registrar to return your domain to you. We will keep you up to date about the status of this return and if we need any additional information or help from you.

Please Keep In Mind

• We cannot guarantee any particular outcome, but we will review your complaint and contact you only if necessary.
• Your complaint will be evaluated on its merits and addressed as appropriate.
• You will not receive any updates regarding the evaluation or outcome of the complaint. It is entirely at the discretion of the domain registrant whether or not to respond to you.
• We reserve the right to use your complaint to prove abuse to our customer, if necessary.
• Complaints are tracked by our team to improve anti-abuse processes and mitigate threats.
• If you submit your report using the Abuse Report Form, you will not receive further notification of receipt for additional submissions from your email address within 24 hours.
• The support code to submit this type of abuse report isS7Q-HJKG-Y9W.

Remember

• Limited Role – Domain name Registrars, such as Trustname, only maintain the system of domain names (example.org) that uniquely identify websites. They are not responsible for the content of the sites to which those domain names point. This means that if you dislike a site or its content, you should first contact the domain owner, then the service that hosts the site (web hosting service), and, if necessary, your local law enforcement authorities. As a domain Registrar, we can only act on court orders issued by or domesticated in the courts of Estonia, Germany, Canada, or the United States.
• ICANN Compliance – According to the ICANN Registrar Accreditation Agreement ( RAA) and Estonian law, as a Registrar, we are not authorized to take independent action against a domain based on third-party allegations. The responsibility for content and activities related to a domain lies with its administrator. However, in accordance with our role as an accredited Registrar, we will take action against a domain administrator if we receive a valid court order or a request from an ICANN-recognized authority.
• Our responsibilities –  As a Registrar, include addressing issues such as Botnets, Malware, Pharming, Phishing, Spam,  DNS security threats, and  trademark infringement , as detailed by ICANN. For more information and our recommended solutions to these issues, please refer to the related articles on ICANN's website.