Afnic provides a mediation service to be used by anyone (natural or legal person) as an amicable means of resolving disputes between rights holders and holders of domain names under one of the TLDs managed by Afnic (.fr and French overseas TLDs1). Entirely free of charge, this procedure is made available on a voluntary basis ahead of an ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) procedure2 to facilitate the handling of disputes concerning domain names.
Whether you are a domain name holder or rights holder, this procedure is designed for you in the case where you consider that you have reached a communication impasse or a dispute with the other Party concerning a domain name under one of the TLDs managed by Afnic.
This form allows you to ask Afnic to appoint a mediator to handle the organisation of a mediation procedure for the dispute in question.
Afnic’s actions
- As soon as the request is received, the Mediator shall take steps to contact the other Party in order to obtain his or her consent.
- If after seven (7) business days the Mediator has not received a response from the other Party, or if the response received is negative, the Procedure shall come to an end.
- Once the Mediator has obtained the other Party’s consent, he or she shall inform both Parties by email of the opening of the Procedure.
Before making a request, please refer to the regulations governing the mediation procedure (PDF – 483 Ko).
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Afnic mediation procedure :
- The request is submitted on the website afnic.fr.
- The mediator is then appointed in accordance with the principles of impartiality, independence and neutrality.
- The mediator obtains the other Party’s consent.
- Without the consent of the other Party, the mediation request is closed. It is subsequently possible to use the dispute resolution procedures (ADR).
- If the other Party agrees to the mediation, a first meeting is set up and a solution must be found within 7 business days.
- Beyond these 7 business days, if the Parties do not reach an agreement, the mediation is brought to an end. It is subsequently possible to use the dispute resolution procedures (ADR).
- Beyond these 7 business days, if the Parties do not reach an agreement, there are 3 possible solutions:
- deletion of the domain name
- transfer of the domain name
- a solution not entailing any operation on the domain name
- In the case of deletion or transfer of the domain name, the report is signed by both Parties before implementation of the solution identified by Afnic, bringing an end to the mediation.
- In the case of a solution not entailing any operation on the domain name, the Afnic mediator notifies the Parties of a report, bringing an end to the mediation.