When a Complaint Is the Problem
Reverse Domain Name Hijacking occurs when a trademark holder brings a UDRP complaint in bad faith, typically to attempt to reclaim a domain the holder has no legitimate basis to claim — often against a domain that predates the mark, or that is a generic or descriptive term the complainant does not actually control. Panels can and do make formal RDNH findings against complainants who knew or should have known their complaint could not succeed.
Building the Record for an RDNH Finding
An RDNH finding typically requires showing the complainant knew of facts fatal to its case — such as a registration date clearly predating its trademark rights, prior settlement communications, or a previous failed UDRP or court attempt to obtain the same domain. Documenting that knowledge, alongside the underlying registration and use facts, is the core of an RDNH-supporting analysis.