FAQ

The Singapore Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (SDRP) is a framework for resolving “.sg” domain name disputes between a “.sg” domain name registrant and any party other than SGNIC. The purpose of the SDRP is to provide a cheaper and quicker mechanism than court proceedings for parties to resolve disputes concerning the use of domain names.

A party who disputes a “.sg” domain name registration has to lodge a complaint with the SDRP Secretariat. The Secretariat is managed by the Singapore Mediation Centre (SMC). The Secretariat will appoint an administrative panel for the dispute to be resolved through an administrative proceeding. If the parties agree to resolve the dispute by mediation, the administrative panel will facilitate discussions between the parties to help them resolve the dispute amicably. If either party does not agree to mediation, or if the parties are unable to resolve the dispute amicably through mediation, the administrative panel will decide the dispute.

The decision of the administrative panel will be implemented by SGNIC, unless a party is dissatisfied with the panel’s decision and applies to the court for the dispute to be decided by the court.

More information on the SDRP can be found here.

Existing registrants are not required to do anything. If there has been no challenge by a party against the use of the domain name by the registrant, there is no dispute. The registrant can continue to use the domain name.

Your existing domain name will not be affected unless your use of your domain name has previously been or is currently being challenged. Should this happen, the complainant has to follow the procedure in the SDRP to lodge a complaint. Your domain name will be affected only when the complaint is found to be valid and your usage of the domain name is found to be illegitimate.

It would be advisable to first check the availability of a proposed domain name on the SGNIC website using the WHOIS function. You should also try to ensure that the domain name you choose does not infringe the rights of any other parties. That means the domain name you applied for:

• does not infringe any registered trade mark in Singapore;
• is not identical to or confusingly similar with either a registered trade mark, or a company or business name in Singapore; and
• does not infringe the rights of any third parties in relation to any applicable treaties or international agreements.

You would receive a ‘Complaint Transmittal Coversheet’ from both the SDRP Secretariat and the party who has disputed your use of your domain name (the Complainant). The Coversheet will inform you that a complaint has been filed against your domain name registration.

The party who lodges the complaint and initiates the dispute resolution procedure will have to pay the fee. The fee has to be paid to the Secretariat and the amount involved would depend on the choice of single panellist or three panellists and the number of domain names included in the complaint. The fee schedule is as follows:

For Single Panellist

For Three Panellists

More information on the fee schedule is available here. 

No, you can still do so. However, a court proceeding should not be initiated while an administrative proceeding is pending.

No. Though parties are not prevented from submitting the dispute to court, they should not commence any court proceedings while an administrative proceeding is still pending.
If court proceedings are initiated before the administrative proceeding is commenced, the Administrative Panel shall decide whether to suspend or terminate the administrative proceeding or proceed to a decision.

No, fees for domain name administrative proceedings are borne by the complainant. Registrants do not need to pay the fee. The only situation when administrative proceeding fees are collected from the registrant is when the complainant requests for a one-member panel and the registrant wants a three-member panel. In this instance, the fees are equally shared between the parties.

No, you cannot. The SDRP Framework covers “.sg” domain name disputes only. To raise a complaint against a non ".sg" domain name, you will have to lodge the complaint with the Dispute Resolution Service Provider appointed by the relevant registry, follow the dispute procedures they have and pay the stipulated fees.

No, SGNIC is not able to do so. The Internet infrastructure does not allow an exhaustive check for identical domain names in all domain name spaces because domain name information maintained by each domain name registry is kept in different databases. It is therefore technically impossible for SGNIC to check whether a “.sg” domain name application is in conflict with other non ".sg" domain names.

No, SGNIC is unable to do so. SGNIC was formed as a private company to perform a technical role of administering the .sg domain name registry. It is not a national authority and has no mandate to administer trademark registration and protection.

To check whether a name or phrase is registered as a trademark in Singapore, you could check with the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) at http://www.ipos.gov.sg.