统一域名争议解决办法程序规则
（由ICANN于1999年10月24日通过）

由ICANN核可的统一争议解决办法下的争议解决行政程序受本规则及ICANN通过其网页发布的补充规则所约束。

1、 定义

在本规则下：

投诉人：指提起有关域名注册投诉的一方当事人。

ICANN：指国际互联网域名及代码分配合作中心。

交互管辖法域：指（1）注册管理机构主要办公场所所在地的法院管辖（只要域名持有人在其注册协议中已将有关域名使用争议或产生于域名使用的争议交付该法域法院司法管辖）或（2）争议提交域名争议解决机构之时注册管理机构档案资料中所记载的域名注册所显示的域名持有人的地址所在地的法院管辖。

专家组：指由域名争议解决机构确定的用以解决有关域名注册争议的专家小组。

专家组成员：指由域名争议解决机构指定的作为专家组成员的专家。

当事人：指投诉人或被投诉人。

办法：指统一域名争议解决办法。该办法通过援引而被并入并成为注册协议的一部分。

争议解决机构：指由ICANN所确认的争议解决服务机构。机构名单见网址www. icann. org/udrp/approved-providers. htm。

注册机构：指被投诉人具以注册已成为被争议域名的机关。

注册协议：指注册机构与域名持有人间所达成的协议。

被投诉人：指针对之以提起控诉的注册域名的持有者。

反向域名侵夺：指恶意使用统一域名解决办法的有关规定以企图剥夺业经注册的域名持有人域名的行为。

补充规则指争议解决机构制定的用以调整争议解决程序的本规则的补充规则。

2、 送达

(a) 争议解决机构有责任采取切实可行的措施，确保被投诉人实际收到投诉书。被投诉人实际收到投诉书，或争议解决机构为使被投诉人实际收到投诉书而实施以下行为后，该项责任即行消失：

（i）、按（A）域名注册机构WHOIS数据库中记载的域名注册人及其指定的技术联系人、管理联系人以及（B）域名注册机构提供的域名注册时使用的帐务往来的所有通信及传真地址，将投诉书送达给被投诉人的；及

（ii）、通过电子邮件向以下地址传送电子形式投诉书（包括可按照相关格式可送达被投诉人的附件）的：

（A） 域名注册人提供的技术、管理及帐务网络信息中包含的电子邮件地址；

（B） postmaster@〈争议域名〉电子邮件格式；

（C） 当有关域名（或www.后紧接域名）对应一个有效网页（而非争议解决机构所认定的有注册机构预留的一般性网页或可有多个域名持有人注册的ISP共享网页）时，该网页所显示的任何电子邮件地址或该网页所链接的任何电子邮件地址；

（iii）、按照被投诉人自行选择并通知争议解决机构的任何地址，及在可行的范围内向由投诉人根据第3（b）（v）条提供的所有其他地址传送了投诉书的。

(b) 除第2 (a) 条规定的情形外，依本规则向投诉人和被投诉人传送的任何书面文件均应分别根据投诉人和被投诉人指示的方式为之（见第3 (b) (iii)条和第5 (b) (iii)条），或在没有这种指示时

（i）通过电话或传真方式传送，并经确认；或

（ii）通过邮政或特快专递方式传送，邮资预付并索要收据；或

（iii）通过网络以电子形式传送，只要能保存传送记录。

（c）向争议解决机构或专家组提交的任何文件均应按争议解决机构补充规则所规定的方法和方式（包括分数）制作。

（d）文件应以第11条所规定的语文制作。如果可行的话，电子文件应以简易文本传送。

（e）任何一方当事人均可随时通知争议解决机构和注册管理机构，以更新其具体联络信息。

（f）除非本规则另有规定，或专家组另有决定，本规则规定的所有文件于下列情形下应视为已经送达；

（i） 通过电话或传真方式传送的，以传送确认书上显示的日期为准；或

（ii） 通过邮政或特快专递方式传送的，以邮寄收据或回执上标志的日期为准；或

（iii） 通过网络传送的，以传送日期为准，只要该传送日期可予验证。

（g）除非本规则另有规定，根据本规则计算的文件传送开始的期间应当从依第2(f) 条规定推定的传送日期中最早的日期开始计算。

（h）任何文件，

（i） 凡由专家组传送给任何一方当事人者，必须同时向争议解决机构和另一方当事人传送文件副本；

（ii） 凡由争议解决机构传送给任何一方当事人者，必须同时向另一方当事人传送文件副本；以及

（iii） 凡由一方当事人提交者，必须同时向另一方当事人、专家组以及，视情况而定，争议解决机构传送文件副本。

（i）文件传送方有义务为起传送的文件保留记录，以记载有关文件传送的具体事实和情况，供可能受该文件影响的当时方查阅，并用以制作各种报告或报道。

（j）一旦传送文件的一方当事人收到告知未收到其所传送文件的通知，该当事人应立即将有关情况通知专家组（或者，如若专家组尚未指定，通知争议解决机构）。此后，任何文件的传送与回复均应依照专家组（或争议机构）的指示而为之。

3、投诉

（a）、任何个人或企业均可依据域名争议解决办法及本规则向经ICANN确认的争议解决机构提起行政程序以解决其域名争议。（由于资格限制，争议解决机构受理投诉的资格可能会暂时中止。在这种情况下，争议解决机构应拒绝受理投诉。个人或企业可向另一争议解决机构投诉。）

（b）、投诉人提交的投诉文件应采用有形书面文件及电子文件（没有电子格式文件的附件除外）两种形式，并应：

（i） 请求有关投诉依据争议解决办法和本规则予以裁断；

（ii） 提供投诉人及其任何投诉行政解决程序授权代表的姓名、邮政及电子邮件地址以及电话和传真号码；

（iii） 确定在行政解决程序中与投诉人联络的首选方式（包括联系人、媒体方式及联络地址），无论是仅就电子文件而言，还是亦包括有形书面文件；

（iv） 决定投诉人是选择一人专家组裁决纠纷，还是选择三人专家组裁决纠纷。在投诉人选择三人专家组裁决纠纷的情况下，提供分别作为专家组成员之一的三位专家候选人姓名和详细的联络信息（三位候选人可从任何一个业经ICANN确认的争议解决机构的专家组成员名单中选定）；

（v） 提供被投诉人（域名持有人）的姓名及为投诉人所知的如何联络被投诉人及其代表的包括投诉前双方协商过程中的联络信息在内的所有信息（包括包括所有的邮政及电子邮件地址以及电话和传真号码），上述信息应详细具体足以允许争议解决机构将投诉人的投诉按第2（a）条所述方式传送给被投诉人；

（vi） 明确作为投诉标的的域名；

（vii） 确定投诉提起之时注册域名的注册管理机构；

（viii） 明确导致投诉的商品商标或服务商标。就每一商标而言，如果有的话，应说明据以使用商标的商品或服务（投诉人亦可分别说明在投诉提起之时被投诉人意欲在将来使用该标识的商品及服务）；

（ix） 根据争议解决办法，说明据以提起投诉的理由，尤其应包括：

（1） 投诉人享有权利的商品商标或服务商标与域名相同或具有足以导致混淆的相似性；及

（2） 被投诉人（域名持有人）对成为投诉标的的域名不享有权利或不具备合法权益；及

（3） 被投诉人（域名持有人）注册和使用该域名具有恶意。

（就第2项和第3项而言，投诉人应讨论应予适用的争议解决办法第4（b）条和第4（c）条所述各个方面。有关说明的字句表述或文件页数限制应符合争议解决机构补充规则的要求。）；

（x）根据争议解决办法明确所意欲寻求的补救方式；

（xi）说明任何其他已经开始或已经终止的与已成为投诉标的的域名相关联的司法程序；

（xii）声明已经根据第2（b）条的规定向被投诉人（域名持有人）发送或传送投诉书副本及争议解决机构补充规则所规定的格式封面；

（xiii）声明投诉人如对行政程序关于取消或转让域名的裁决有任何异议，将把有关争议提交至少一个确定的交互管辖法域的法院予以管辖；

（xiv）投诉书的结尾应附有下列声明，并由投诉人或其授权代表签署：

"投诉人同意，其有关域名注册、争议或争议解决的投诉及救济主张仅针对注册域名持有人，不涉及（a）域名争议解决机构及专家组专家，其故意行为除外，（b）域名注册管理机构，（c）注册官员，及（d）ICANN以及上述各机构的指导专家、官员、雇员及代理机构。"

"投诉人确认，投诉书所载信息就其所知而言是完整的和准确的。该投诉并非出于诸如讹诈等任何不正当的目的。投诉人保证投诉书有关主张是依据本规则和应予适用的法律而提出，犹如其现存状态或可能通过善意及合理抗辩而展延的状态。"及

（xv）包括争议域名应予适用的争议解决办法副本及投诉赖以依存的任何注册商标和服务标识在内的任何单据或其他证据应作为附件提交，并应同时提供上述证据的目录索引表；

（c）投诉人可对多个域名提出投诉，只要所投诉域名为同一域名持有人所注册并持有。

4、投诉通知

（a） 争议解决机构对投诉书予以形式审查。如果投诉书符合争议解决办法及本规则的规定，争议解决机构将在收到投诉人根据第19条交纳的费用后3日内依第2（a）条所规定的方式将投诉书（连同争议解决机构补充规则所规定的说明性格式封面）送达被投诉人。

（b） 如果争议解决机构认为投诉书存有形式方面的缺陷，他应立即将业经确定缺陷的性质告知投诉人和被投诉人。投诉人应在收到通知后5日内对缺陷予以修改。投诉人未能在上述限定期限内对投诉书予以修改者，将视为撤回投诉，但并不妨碍投诉人提出的其他投诉。

（c） 争议解决机构依第2（a）条完成其向被投诉人送达投诉文件责任之日即为域名争议行政解决程序开始之日。

（d） 争议解决机构应立即将行政程序开始日期通知投诉人、被投诉人、有关的域名注册管理机构及ICANN。

5、答辩

(a) 被投诉人应在行政程序开始之日起20日内向争议解决机构提交答辩文件。

(b) 答辩应以有形书面文件和电子文件（没有电子格式的附件除外）两种形式提交，并应，

（i） 对投诉书中的投诉和主张予以具体反驳，并申明被投诉人（域名持有人）保留注册和继续使用争议域名的所有依据和具体理由（答辩的该部分内容字句表述及文件页数均应符合争议解决机构补充规则所列明的要求）；

（ii） 提供被投诉人（域名持有人）及其授权的行政程序代理人的姓名、邮政及电子邮件地址以及电话和传真号码；

（iii） 确定在行政解决程序中与被投诉人联系的首选联络方式（包括联系人、媒体方式及联络地址），无论是仅针对（A）电子文件，还是（B）亦包括有形书面文件；

（iv） 如果投诉人在投诉书中已选择一人专家组（见第3（b）（iv）条），应声明其是否相反选择将争议交由三人专家组裁断；

（v） 如果投诉人抑或被投诉人选择了三人专家组，则应提供作为专家组成员之一的三位候选人的姓名和详细的联络信息（这些候选人可从任一经ICANN确认的争议解决机构专家组成员名单中选定）；

（vi） 明确与成为任一投诉标的的域名相联系的或相关的、已经开始或业已终止的任何其他司法程序；

（vii） 声明已经依照第2（b）条向投诉人发送或传送答辩书副本；并且

（viii） 答辩书的结尾应附有下列声明，并经被投诉人或其授权的代表签署：

"被投诉人确认，答辩书中所含信息就其所知只完整的和准确的。该答辩并非出于诸如讹诈等任何不正当的目的。被投诉人保证答辩书有关主张是依据本规则和应予适用的法律而提出，犹如其现存状态或可能通过善意及合理抗辩而展延的状态。"及

（ix） 任何答辩赖以依存的单据或其他证据应作为附件提交，并应同时提供上述证据的目录索引表。

（c）如果投诉人选择将争议交由一人专家组裁断而被投诉人选择将争议交由三人专家组裁断，被投诉人则应承担争议解决机构补充规则所规定的三人专家组所应收取费用的一半。该费用应在向争议解决机构提交答辩时一并交付。如所应收取的费用未能应要求交付，争议将由一人专家组审理。

（d）应被投诉人请求，争议解决机构可在个别案件中延长提交答辩的期限。该期限亦可由当事人书面约定展延，只要该约定经争议解决机构确认。

（e） 如果被投诉人未提交答辩，如无特殊情形，专家组应依据投诉书审理争议。

6、专家组的指定及裁决期限

（a） 每个争议解决机构应拥有并公开印发专家组成员及其资质的名册。

（b） 如果投诉人和被投诉人均未选择三人专家组（第3（b）（iv）条和第5（b）（iv）条），争议解决机构将在其收到被投诉人答辩或提交答辩期限届满后5日内从专家组成员名册中指定一单人专家组成专家组。一人专家组费用应全部由投诉人支付。

（c） 如果投诉人或被投诉人中的一方选择将争议交由三人专家组裁断，争议解决机构应根据第6（e）条所规定的程序指定三位专家。三人专家组费用应全部由投诉人支付，但三人专家组由被投诉人选择者除外。在后一种情形下，所涉费用应由双方各半分担。

（d） 除非投诉人已经选择了三人专家组，投诉人应在载有被投诉人选择三人专家组信息的答辩书后5日内，向争议解决机构提交作为专家组成员之一的三位候选人的姓名和详细联络信息。这些候选人可从经CANN确认的任一争议解决机构的专家组成员名单中选定。

（e） 一旦投诉人或被投诉人中的一方选择了三人专家组，争议解决机构应尽量从投诉人及被投诉人提供的候选人名单中各自指定一名专家。如果争议解决机构不能在5日内按其惯常条件从当事人双方候选人名单中各自指定一位专家，争议解决机构将从其专家组成员名册中予以指定。第三位专家应由争议解决机构从其提供给当事人的5位候选人名单中指定。争议解决机构对第三位专家的指定应合理的平衡双方当事人的意愿，正如当事人双方在其收到争议解决机构提供的5位候选人名单后5日内所明确的那样。

（f） 一旦专家组成立，争议解决机构应将指定的专家名单及如无特殊情况专家组应将其关于投诉的裁决提交争议解决机构的日期通知双方当事人。

7、独立与公正

专家组成员应独立公正，并应在接受指定前向争议解决机构披露对其独立公正产生合理怀疑的任何情形。如果在行政程序进行过程中的任何阶段出现了可导致对其独立公正产生合理怀疑新情况，则该专家组成员应立即将该情形向争议解决机构予以披露。在这种情况下，争议解决机构有权指定替代专家。

8、当事人与专家组间的联络

任何一方当事人或其代理人均不能与专家组进行任何单方联络。当事人一方与专家组或争议解决机构间的所有联络均应通过争议解决机构以争议解决机构补充规则所规定的方式指定的案件管理人员进行。

9、案件移交专家组

当专家组由一人组成时，该专家一经指定，或当专家组由三人组成时，最后一位专家一经指定，争议解决机构即应将案件移交专家组。

10、专家组一般性权利

（a） 专家组应以其根据争议解决办法和本规则而认为适当的方式进行行政解决程序。

（b） 在所有的案件中，专家组应确保当事人双方被平等的予以对待，每一方当事人均拥有平等的机会陈述案情。

（c） 专家组应确保行政程序快速进行。专家组可应一方当事人请求或自行决定在特殊情形下延长本规则或专家组所确定的期限。

（d） 专家组有权决定证据的可接受性、关联性、实质性和重要性。

（e） 专家组可应一方当事人的请求根据争议解决办法和本规则对多个域名争议合并审理。

11、行政程序所使用的语言

（a） 除非当事人另有约定或注册协议另有规定，以及专家组根据行政解决程序的具体情形另有决定，行政程序所使用的语言应是注册协议所使用的语言。

（b） 专家组可裁定要求当事人提交的任何非以行政程序所使用语言作成的文件均应全部或部分地附有行政程序所应使用语言的译文。

12、进一步陈述

除投诉书和答辩书外，专家组可自行决定要求当事人一方就所涉案件提供进一步的陈述及有关证据。

13、当庭听证

除非专家组自行决定，作为一个另外，当庭听证对裁断投诉确有必要，正常情况下当庭听证不应予以安排（包括以电话会议、视频会议及网络会议方式所进行的任何听证）。

14、缺席

（a） 如若当事人一方，在没有特殊理由的情形下，不遵守本规则或专家组所确定的任何期限，专家组将继续进行行政程序，直至就所涉投诉作出裁决。

（b） 如果当事人一方，在没有特殊理由的情形下，不遵守本规则中任何规定或本规则下任何要求或专家组任何指令，专家组应以其认为适当的情形对此予以推论。

15、专家组裁决

（a） 专家组应基于当事人所提交的陈述及证据，根据争议解决办法、本规则以及可予使用的法律规则和原则裁决争议。

（b） 如无特殊情形，专家组应在其依据第6条被指定后14日内将有关投诉裁决提交给争议解决机构。

（c） 专家组裁决应为书面，说明裁决理由，注明裁决作出日期，并写明专家姓名。

（d） 专家组裁决及不同意见通常应符合争议解决机构补充规则关于文件长度的要求。

任何不同意见均应与多数意见裁决一并列明。如果专家组认为所涉争议不在争议解决办法第4（a）条范围内，他应予以声明。如果在审阅当事人所提交的文件后，专家组认定投诉具有恶意，属于反向域名侵夺或其投诉本意在于讹诈域名持有人，专家组应在其裁决宣布投诉人的投诉具有恶意并构成对行政程序的滥用。

16、裁决送达当事人

（a） 在收到专家组向其传送的裁决后，争议解决机构应于3日内将裁决书全文传送给各方当事人、有关域名注册管理机构及ICANN。有关的注册管理机构应立即将其根据争议解决办法执行裁决的日期告知各方当事人、争议解决机构和ICANN。

（b） 除专家组另有决定外（见争议解决办法第4（j）条），争议解决机构应将裁决的全部内容及其执行日期于社会公众可自由进入的网站上公布。无论如何，任何裁决中有关投诉构成恶意的部分均应予以公布。

17、和解或其他终止程序的理由

（a） 如果在专家组作出裁决之前，当事人自行达成和解，专家组应终止行政程序。

（b） 如果在专家组作出裁决之前，因任何原因行政程序已无必要继续进行或不可能继续进行，专家组应决定终止行政程序，除非一方当事人在专家组规定的时间内提出合理的反对理由。

18、司法程序的效力

（a） 一旦在行政程序开始之前或进行的过程中就已成为投诉标的的域名争议提起了任何司法程序，专家组有权决定中止或终止行政程序，或继续行政程序，直至作出裁决。

（b） 行政程序的一方当事人在行政程序进行期间就已成为投诉标的的域名争议提起任何司法程序，其应立即通知专家组和争议解决机构。见上述第8条。

19、费用

（a） 投诉人应根据争议解决机构补充规则的规定，在规定的时间内，按要求的金额，向争议解决机构支付起始固定的费用。如被投诉人根据第5（b）（iv）条选择将争议交由三人专家组裁断，而不是交由投诉人选择的一人专家组裁断，三人专家组固定费用的一半应由被投诉人承担，交付争议解决机构。见第5（c）条。在所有其他情形下，投诉人应承担争议解决机构所有的费用，第19（d）条规定的情形除外。专家组一经指定，争议解决机构应根据争议解决机构补充规则的规定，将适当比例的起始费用，如果有的话，返还给投诉人。

（b） 在投诉人未根据第19（a）条向争议解决机构交纳起始费用前，争议解决机构不就有关投诉采取行动。

（c） 如果争议解决机构在收到投诉后10日内未收到有关费用，视为投诉人撤回投诉，行政程序予以终止。

（d） 在特殊情形下，例如一旦举行当庭听证，争议解决机构应要求当事人双方另外付费。该费用经商当事人双方和专家组后确定。

20、责任的排除

除故意行为外，争议解决机构抑或专家均不就与本规则下任何行政程序有关的任何行为或疏忽向一方当事人承担责任。

21、修改

有关投诉适用向争议解决机构提交投诉书之时有效的规则版本。本规则只有早得到ICANN明示书面确认时方可予以修改。

Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy

(the "Rules")

(As Approved by ICANN on October 24, 1999)

Administrative proceedings for the resolution of disputes under the Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy adopted by ICANN shall be governed by these Rules and also the Supplemental Rules of the Provider administering the proceedings, as posted on its web site.

1. Definitions

In these Rules:

Complainant means the party initiating a complaint concerning a domain-name registration.

ICANN refers to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers.

Mutual Jurisdiction means a court jurisdiction at the location of either (a) the principal office of the Registrar (provided the domain-name holder has submitted in its Registration Agreement to that jurisdiction for court adjudication of disputes concerning or arising from the use of the domain name) or (b) the domain-name holder's address as shown for the registration of the domain name in Registrar's Whois database at the time the complaint is submitted to the Provider.

Panel means an administrative panel appointed by a Provider to decide a complaint concerning a domain-name registration.

Panelist means an individual appointed by a Provider to be a member of a Panel.

Party means a Complainant or a Respondent.

Policy means the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy that is incorporated by reference and made a part of the Registration Agreement.

Provider means a dispute-resolution service provider approved by ICANN. A list of such Providers appears at www.icann.org/udrp/approved-providers.htm.

Registrar means the entity with which the Respondent has registered a domain name that is the subject of a complaint.

Registration Agreement means the agreement between a Registrar and a domain-name holder.

Respondent means the holder of a domain-name registration against which a complaint is initiated.

Reverse Domain Name Hijacking means using the Policy in bad faith to attempt to deprive a registered domain-name holder of a domain name.

Supplemental Rules means the rules adopted by the Provider administering a proceeding to supplement these Rules. Supplemental Rules shall not be inconsistent with the Policy or these Rules and shall cover such topics as fees, word and page limits and guidelines, the means for communicating with the Provider and the Panel, and the form of cover sheets.

2. Communications

(a) When forwarding a complaint to the Respondent, it shall be the Provider's responsibility to employ reasonably available means calculated to achieve actual notice to Respondent. Achieving actual notice, or employing the following measures to do so, shall discharge this responsibility:

(i) sending the complaint to all postal-mail and facsimile addresses (A) shown in the domain name's registration data in Registrar's Whois database for the registered domain-name holder, the technical contact, and the administrative contact and (B) supplied by Registrar to the Provider for the registration's billing contact; and

(ii) sending the complaint in electronic form (including annexes to the extent available in that form) by e-mail to:

(A) the e-mail addresses for those technical, administrative, and billing contacts;

(B) postmaster@; and

(C) if the domain name (or "www." followed by the domain name) resolves to an active web page (other than a generic page the Provider concludes is maintained by a registrar or ISP for parking domain-names registered by multiple domain-name holders), any e-mail address shown or e-mail links on that web page; and

(iii) sending the complaint to any address the Respondent has notified the Provider it prefers and, to the extent practicable, to all other addresses provided to the Provider by Complainant under Paragraph 3(b)(v).

(b) Except as provided in Paragraph 2(a), any written communication to Complainant or Respondent provided for under these Rules shall be made by the preferred means stated by the Complainant or Respondent, respectively (see Paragraphs 3(b)(iii) and 5(b)(iii)), or in the absence of such specification

(i) by telecopy or facsimile transmission, with a confirmation of transmission; or

(ii) by postal or courier service, postage pre-paid and return receipt requested; or

(iii) electronically via the Internet, provided a record of its transmission is available.

(c) Any communication to the Provider or the Panel shall be made by the means and in the manner (including number of copies) stated in the Provider's Supplemental Rules.

(d) Communications shall be made in the language prescribed in Paragraph 11. E-mail communications should, if practicable, be sent in plaintext.

(e) Either Party may update its contact details by notifying the Provider and the Registrar.

(f) Except as otherwise provided in these Rules, or decided by a Panel, all communications provided for under these Rules shall be deemed to have been made:

(i) if delivered by telecopy or facsimile transmission, on the date shown on the confirmation of transmission; or

(ii) if by postal or courier service, on the date marked on the receipt; or

(iii) if via the Internet, on the date that the communication was transmitted, provided that the date of transmission is verifiable.

(g) Except as otherwise provided in these Rules, all time periods calculated under these Rules to begin when a communication is made shall begin to run on the earliest date that the communication is deemed to have been made in accordance with Paragraph 2(f).

(h) Any communication by

(i) a Panel to any Party shall be copied to the Provider and to the other Party;

(ii) the Provider to any Party shall be copied to the other Party; and

(iii) a Party shall be copied to the other Party, the Panel and the Provider, as the case may be.

(i) It shall be the responsibility of the sender to retain records of the fact and circumstances of sending, which shall be available for inspection by affected parties and for reporting purposes.

(j) In the event a Party sending a communication receives notification of non-delivery of the communication, the Party shall promptly notify the Panel (or, if no Panel is yet appointed, the Provider) of the circumstances of the notification. Further proceedings concerning the communication and any response shall be as directed by the Panel (or the Provider).

3. The Complaint

(a) Any person or entity may initiate an administrative proceeding by submitting a complaint in accordance with the Policy and these Rules to any Provider approved by ICANN. (Due to capacity constraints or for other reasons, a Provider's ability to accept complaints may be suspended at times. In that event, the Provider shall refuse the submission. The person or entity may submit the complaint to another Provider.)

(b) The complaint shall be submitted in hard copy and (except to the extent not available for annexes) in electronic form and shall:

(i) Request that the complaint be submitted for decision in accordance with the Policy and these Rules;

(ii) Provide the name, postal and e-mail addresses, and the telephone and telefax numbers of the Complainant and of any representative authorized to act for the Complainant in the administrative proceeding;

(iii) Specify a preferred method for communications directed to the Complainant in the administrative proceeding (including person to be contacted, medium, and address information) for each of (A) electronic-only material and (B) material including hard copy;

(iv) Designate whether Complainant elects to have the dispute decided by a single-member or a three-member Panel and, in the event Complainant elects a three-member Panel, provide the names and contact details of three candidates to serve as one of the Panelists (these candidates may be drawn from any ICANN-approved Provider's list of panelists);

(v) Provide the name of the Respondent (domain-name holder) and all information (including any postal and e-mail addresses and telephone and telefax numbers) known to Complainant regarding how to contact Respondent or any representative of Respondent, including contact information based on pre-complaint dealings, in sufficient detail to allow the Provider to send the complaint as described in Paragraph 2(a);

(vi) Specify the domain name(s) that is/are the subject of the complaint;

(vii) Identify the Registrar(s) with whom the domain name(s) is/are registered at the time the complaint is filed;

(viii) Specify the trademark(s) or service mark(s) on which the complaint is based and, for each mark, describe the goods or services, if any, with which the mark is used (Complainant may also separately describe other goods and services with which it intends, at the time the complaint is submitted, to use the mark in the future.);

(ix) Describe, in accordance with the Policy, the grounds on which the complaint is made including, in particular,

(1) the manner in which the domain name(s) is/are identical or confusingly similar to a trademark or service mark in which the Complainant has rights; and

(2) why the Respondent (domain-name holder) should be considered as having no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the domain name(s) that is/are the subject of the complaint; and

(3) why the domain name(s) should be considered as having been registered and being used in bad faith

(The description should, for elements (2) and (3), discuss any aspects of Paragraphs 4(b) and 4(c) of the Policy that are applicable. The description shall comply with any word or page limit set forth in the Provider's Supplemental Rules.);

(x) Specify, in accordance with the Policy, the remedies sought;

(xi) Identify any other legal proceedings that have been commenced or terminated in connection with or relating to any of the domain name(s) that are the subject of the complaint;

(xii) State that a copy of the complaint, together with the cover sheet as prescribed by the Provider's Supplemental Rules, has been sent or transmitted to the Respondent (domain-name holder), in accordance with Paragraph 2(b);

(xiii) State that Complainant will submit, with respect to any challenges to a decision in the administrative proceeding canceling or transferring the domain name, to the jurisdiction of the courts in at least one specified Mutual Jurisdiction;

(xiv) Conclude with the following statement followed by the signature of the Complainant or its authorized representative:

"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 domain-name holder and waives all such claims and remedies against (a) the dispute-resolution provider and panelists, except in the case of deliberate wrongdoing, (b) the registrar, (c) the registry administrator, and (d) the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, as well as their directors, officers, employees, and agents."

"Complainant certifies that the information contained in this Complaint is to the best of Complainant's knowledge complete and accurate, that this Complaint is not being presented for any improper purpose, such as to harass, and that the assertions in this Complaint are warranted under these Rules and under applicable law, as it now exists or as it may be extended by a good-faith and reasonable argument."; and

(xv) Annex any documentary or other evidence, including a copy of the Policy applicable to the domain name(s) in dispute and any trademark or service mark registration upon which the complaint relies, together with a schedule indexing such evidence.

(c) The complaint may relate to more than one domain name, provided that the domain names are registered by the same domain-name holder.

4. Notification of Complaint

(a) The Provider shall review the complaint for administrative compliance with the Policy and these Rules and, if in compliance, shall forward the complaint (together with the explanatory cover sheet prescribed by the Provider's Supplemental Rules) to the Respondent, in the manner prescribed by Paragraph 2(a), within three (3) calendar days following receipt of the fees to be paid by the Complainant in accordance with Paragraph 19.

(b) If the Provider finds the complaint to be administratively deficient, it shall promptly notify the Complainant and the Respondent of the nature of the deficiencies identified. The Complainant shall have five (5) calendar days within which to correct any such deficiencies, after which the administrative proceeding will be deemed withdrawn without prejudice to submission of a different complaint by Complainant.

(c) The date of commencement of the administrative proceeding shall be the date on which the Provider completes its responsibilities under Paragraph 2(a) in connection with forwarding the Complaint to the Respondent.

(d) The Provider shall immediately notify the Complainant, the Respondent, the concerned Registrar(s), and ICANN of the date of commencement of the administrative proceeding.

5. The Response

(a) Within twenty (20) days of the date of commencement of the administrative proceeding the Respondent shall submit a response to the Provider.

(b) The response shall be submitted in hard copy and (except to the extent not available for annexes) in electronic form and shall:

(i) Respond specifically to the statements and allegations contained in the complaint and include any and all bases for the Respondent (domain-name holder) to retain registration and use of the disputed domain name (This portion of the response shall comply with any word or page limit set forth in the Provider's Supplemental Rules.);

(ii) Provide the name, postal and e-mail addresses, and the telephone and telefax numbers of the Respondent (domain-name holder) and of any representative authorized to act for the Respondent in the administrative proceeding;

(iii) Specify a preferred method for communications directed to the Respondent in the administrative proceeding (including person to be contacted, medium, and address information) for each of (A) electronic-only material and (B) material including hard copy;

(iv) If Complainant has elected a single-member panel in the Complaint (see Paragraph 3(b)(iv)), state whether Respondent elects instead to have the dispute decided by a three-member panel;

(v) If either Complainant or Respondent elects a three-member Panel, provide the names and contact details of three candidates to serve as one of the Panelists (these candidates may be drawn from any ICANN-approved Provider's list of panelists);

(vi) Identify any other legal proceedings that have been commenced or terminated in connection with or relating to any of the domain name(s) that are the subject of the complaint;

(vii) State that a copy of the response has been sent or transmitted to the Complainant, in accordance with Paragraph 2(b); and

(viii) Conclude with the following statement followed by the signature of the Respondent or its authorized representative:

"Respondent certifies that the information contained in this Response is to the best of Respondent's knowledge complete and accurate, that this Response is not being presented for any improper purpose, such as to harass, and that the assertions in this Response are warranted under these Rules and under applicable law, as it now exists or as it may be extended by a good-faith and reasonable argument."; and

(ix) Annex any documentary or other evidence upon which the Respondent relies, together with a schedule indexing such documents.

(c) If Complainant has elected to have the dispute decided by a single-member Panel and Respondent elects a three-member Panel, Respondent shall be required to pay one-half of the applicable fee for a three-member Panel as set forth in the Provider's Supplemental Rules. This payment shall be made together with the submission of the response to the Provider. In the event that the required payment is not made, the dispute shall be decided by a single-member Panel.

(d) At the request of the Respondent, the Provider may, in exceptional cases, extend the period of time for the filing of the response. The period may also be extended by written stipulation between the Parties, provided the stipulation is approved by the Provider.

(e) If a Respondent does not submit a response, in the absence of exceptional circumstances, the Panel shall decide the dispute based upon the complaint.

6. Appointment of the Panel and Timing of Decision

(a) Each Provider shall maintain and publish a publicly available list of panelists and their qualifications.

(b) If neither the Complainant nor the Respondent has elected a three-member Panel (Paragraphs 3(b)(iv) and 5(b)(iv)), the Provider shall appoint, within five (5) calendar days following receipt of the response by the Provider, or the lapse of the time period for the submission thereof, a single Panelist from its list of panelists. The fees for a single-member Panel shall be paid entirely by the Complainant.

(c) If either the Complainant or the Respondent elects to have the dispute decided by a three-member Panel, the Provider shall appoint three Panelists in accordance with the procedures identified in Paragraph 6(e). The fees for a three-member Panel shall be paid in their entirety by the Complainant, except where the election for a three-member Panel was made by the Respondent, in which case the applicable fees shall be shared equally between the Parties.

(d) Unless it has already elected a three-member Panel, the Complainant shall submit to the Provider, within five (5) calendar days of communication of a response in which the Respondent elects a three-member Panel, the names and contact details of three candidates to serve as one of the Panelists. These candidates may be drawn from any ICANN-approved Provider's list of panelists.

(e) In the event that either the Complainant or the Respondent elects a three-member Panel, the Provider shall endeavor to appoint one Panelist from the list of candidates provided by each of the Complainant and the Respondent. In the event the Provider is unable within five (5) calendar days to secure the appointment of a Panelist on its customary terms from either Party's list of candidates, the Provider shall make that appointment from its list of panelists. The third Panelist shall be appointed by the Provider from a list of five candidates submitted by the Provider to the Parties, the Provider's selection from among the five being made in a manner that reasonably balances the preferences of both Parties, as they may specify to the Provider within five (5) calendar days of the Provider's submission of the five-candidate list to the Parties.

(f) Once the entire Panel is appointed, the Provider shall notify the Parties of the Panelists appointed and the date by which, absent exceptional circumstances, the Panel shall forward its decision on the complaint to the Provider.

7. Impartiality and Independence

A Panelist shall be impartial and independent and shall have, before accepting appointment, disclosed to the Provider any circumstances giving rise to justifiable doubt as to the Panelist's impartiality or independence. If, at any stage during the administrative proceeding, new circumstances arise that could give rise to justifiable doubt as to the impartiality or independence of the Panelist, that Panelist shall promptly disclose such circumstances to the Provider. In such event, the Provider shall have the discretion to appoint a substitute Panelist.

8. Communication Between Parties and the Panel

No Party or anyone acting on its behalf may have any unilateral communication with the Panel. All communications between a Party and the Panel or the Provider shall be made to a case administrator appointed by the Provider in the manner prescribed in the Provider's Supplemental Rules.

9. Transmission of the File to the Panel

The Provider shall forward the file to the Panel as soon as the Panelist is appointed in the case of a Panel consisting of a single member, or as soon as the last Panelist is appointed in the case of a three-member Panel.

10. General Powers of the Panel

(a) The Panel shall conduct the administrative proceeding in such manner as it considers appropriate in accordance with the Policy and these Rules.

(b) In all cases, the Panel shall ensure that the Parties are treated with equality and that each Party is given a fair opportunity to present its case.

(c) The Panel shall ensure that the administrative proceeding takes place with due expedition. It may, at the request of a Party or on its own motion, extend, in exceptional cases, a period of time fixed by these Rules or by the Panel.

(d) The Panel shall determine the admissibility, relevance, materiality and weight of the evidence.

(e) A Panel shall decide a request by a Party to consolidate multiple domain name disputes in accordance with the Policy and these Rules.

11. Language of Proceedings

(a) Unless otherwise agreed by the Parties, or specified otherwise in the Registration Agreement, the language of the administrative proceeding shall be the language of the Registration Agreement, subject to the authority of the Panel to determine otherwise, having regard to the circumstances of the administrative proceeding.

(b) The Panel may order that any documents submitted in languages other than the language of the administrative proceeding be accompanied by a translation in whole or in part into the language of the administrative proceeding.

12. Further Statements

In addition to the complaint and the response, the Panel may request, in its sole discretion, further statements or documents from either of the Parties.

13. In-Person Hearings

There shall be no in-person hearings (including hearings by teleconference, videoconference, and web conference), unless the Panel determines, in its sole discretion and as an exceptional matter, that such a hearing is necessary for deciding the complaint.

14. Default

(a) In the event that a Party, in the absence of exceptional circumstances, does not comply with any of the time periods established by these Rules or the Panel, the Panel shall proceed to a decision on the complaint.

(b) If a Party, in the absence of exceptional circumstances, does not comply with any provision of, or requirement under, these Rules or any request from the Panel, the Panel shall draw such inferences therefrom as it considers appropriate.

15. Panel Decisions

(a) A Panel shall decide a complaint on the basis of the statements and documents submitted and in accordance with the Policy, these Rules and any rules and principles of law that it deems applicable.

(b) In the absence of exceptional circumstances, the Panel shall forward its decision on the complaint to the Provider within fourteen (14) days of its appointment pursuant to Paragraph 6.

(c) In the case of a three-member Panel, the Panel's decision shall be made by a majority.

(d) The Panel's decision shall be in writing, provide the reasons on which it is based, indicate the date on which it was rendered and identify the name(s) of the Panelist(s).

(e) Panel decisions and dissenting opinions shall normally comply with the guidelines as to length set forth in the Provider's Supplemental Rules. Any dissenting opinion shall accompany the majority decision. If the Panel concludes that the dispute is not within the scope of Paragraph 4(a) of the Policy, it shall so state. If after considering the submissions the Panel finds that the complaint was brought in bad faith, for example in an attempt at Reverse Domain Name Hijacking or was brought primarily to harass the domain-name holder, the Panel shall declare in its decision that the complaint was brought in bad faith and constitutes an abuse of the administrative proceeding.

16. Communication of Decision to Parties

(a) Within three (3) calendar days after receiving the decision from the Panel, the Provider shall communicate the full text of the decision to each Party, the concerned Registrar(s), and ICANN. The concerned Registrar(s) shall immediately communicate to each Party, the Provider, and ICANN the date for the implementation of the decision in accordance with the Policy.

(b) Except if the Panel determines otherwise (see Paragraph 4(j) of the Policy), the Provider shall publish the full decision and the date of its implementation on a publicly accessible web site. In any event, the portion of any decision determining a complaint to have been brought in bad faith (see Paragraph 15(e) of these Rules) shall be published.

17. Settlement or Other Grounds for Termination

(a) If, before the Panel's decision, the Parties agree on a settlement, the Panel shall terminate the administrative proceeding.

(b) If, before the Panel's decision is made, it becomes unnecessary or impossible to continue the administrative proceeding for any reason, the Panel shall terminate the administrative proceeding, unless a Party raises justifiable grounds for objection within a period of time to be determined by the Panel.

18. Effect of Court Proceedings

(a) In the event of any legal proceedings initiated prior to or during an administrative proceeding in respect of a domain-name dispute that is the subject of the complaint, the Panel shall have the discretion to decide whether to suspend or terminate the administrative proceeding, or to proceed to a decision.

(b) In the event that a Party initiates any legal proceedings during the pendency of an administrative proceeding in respect of a domain-name dispute that is the subject of the complaint, it shall promptly notify the Panel and the Provider. See Paragraph 8 above.

19. Fees

(a) The Complainant shall pay to the Provider an initial fixed fee, in accordance with the Provider's Supplemental Rules, within the time and in the amount required. A Respondent electing under Paragraph 5(b)(iv) to have the dispute decided by a three-member Panel, rather than the single-member Panel elected by the Complainant, shall pay the Provider one-half the fixed fee for a three-member Panel. See Paragraph 5(c). In all other cases, the Complainant shall bear all of the Provider's fees, except as prescribed under Paragraph 19(d). Upon appointment of the Panel, the Provider shall refund the appropriate portion, if any, of the initial fee to the Complainant, as specified in the Provider's Supplemental Rules.

(b) No action shall be taken by the Provider on a complaint until it has received from Complainant the initial fee in accordance with Paragraph 19(a).

(c) If the Provider has not received the fee within ten (10) calendar days of receiving the complaint, the complaint shall be deemed withdrawn and the administrative proceeding terminated.

(d) In exceptional circumstances, for example in the event an in-person hearing is held, the Provider shall request the Parties for the payment of additional fees, which shall be established in agreement with the Parties and the Panel.

20. Exclusion of Liability

Except in the case of deliberate wrongdoing, neither the Provider nor a Panelist shall be liable to a Party for any act or omission in connection with any administrative proceeding under these Rules.

21. Amendments

The version of these Rules in effect at the time of the submission of the complaint to the Provider shall apply to the administrative proceeding commenced thereby. These Rules may not be amended without the express written approval of ICANN.