• Domain names

WIPO: introduction of a Priority UDRP Case Service and an update to its UDRP fee schedule

[11/03/2026]

WIPO has just announced the introduction of a priority service for expedited case processing, and a revised fee schedule in the event of a withdrawal of a complaint.

This announcement is particularly noteworthy, as the ICANN-accredited centres have very little room for manoeuvre to make changes to the system. The substantive rules of the UDRP are the responsibility of ICANN’s policy process, under the supervision of its Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO). Any fundamental change normally requires a long Policy Development Process (PDP).

In this context, centres such as the WIPO can only act through their supplemental rules, which are limited to procedural aspects: fees, character limits, filing formats or administrative steps.

The GNSO has been working for several years on a global review of rights protection mechanisms, including the UDRP and supplemental rules. In this respect, the GNSO had also noted that the divergence of these rules between the various centres designated to handle UDRP complaints could encourage forum shopping phenomena.

Under these circumstances, WIPO has announced two changes to the system for filing an UDRP complaint, which had remained virtually unchanged for nearly 26 years.

1. A Priority UDRP Case Service

The first change concerns the introduction of a Priority UDRP Case Service, based primarily on a reduction in the administrative processing times handled by the centre.

Main changes:

  • A decision is expected within approximately one month after the complaint has been filed
  • Broad scope: gTLDs, new gTLDs and ccTLDs adopting the WIPO UDRP model
  • Costs: 4,000 USD
  • Single panel: the service would only be available for disputes with a single expert

The procedural details have not yet been published. However, given the current structure of the UDRP, any reduction in time limits should focus on the administrative stages overseen by the centre. The 20-day response period, as set out in the UDRP rules, should remain unchanged.

2. Significant reduction in fees in the event of a withdrawal following a WHOIS disclosure

The second change concerns the fees applicable when the complainant withdraws their complaint after the registrar has disclosed the registrant contact information.

In the current system:

  • Filing of the complaint: 1,500 USD
  • If the complaint is withdrawn before an expert has been appointed, USD 500 will be retained as administrative costs.

WIPO now proposes to reduce these fees to USD 100 when the proceedings are discontinued at this stage.
In practical terms, the complainant would recover USD 1,400 of the USD 1,500 initially paid.

According to WIPO, this trend is particular driven by the increased use of proxy and privacy services, which often leads complainants to withdraw their complaint once the actual owner has been identified.

However, this change is provoking reactions, with some observers pointing out that the system could be used to obtain the removal of WHOIS privacy at low cost.

In theory, it would be possible to obtain WHOIS data for 1 to 5 domain names for $100, or a cost of around $20 per domain name to request for data disclosure. Furthermore, this would include data held by privacy/proxy services, which are not currently covered by data communication systems (RDRS).

Furthermore, this development comes at a time when access to WHOIS data remains a sensitive issue following the entry into force of the GDPR and the difficulties encountered by ICANN in defining an efficient standardised access model.

In this context, the possibility of obtaining disclosure of data at very low cost by circumventing UDRP procedures could quickly become the subject of debate within the community.

Source : https://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/news/2026/news_0005.html