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For a Cleaner Estonian Internet: Domain Dispute Fees Lowered for Individuals and Non-Profits

Heiki Sibul,the CEO of EIF, explains why this change matters:
"Until now, the cost of filing a domain dispute has been too high for many NGOs and private individuals. Since legal costs can also be involved, many haven’t been able to challenge unfair domain registrations. That means some domains haven’t been returned to their rightful owners. This change will help create a cleaner and fairer Estonian internet by making the process more accessible," said Sibul.

Starting from September 1, 2025, the new fees for disputes involving one to five .ee domains are:

• 390 euros for private individuals, non-profit organizations, foundations, the state, local governments, and their agencies.
  
  

• 790 euros for companies and other legal entities.
  
  

Fees may increase based on how many domain names are in the dispute or how many committee members are involved.

The Domain Disputes Committee has been working under EIF since 2010. It handles cases where a .ee domain may have been registered unfairly—like copying a brand name or someone’s personal name. The committee can cancel or transfer the domain to the rightful owner if the claim is valid.

This new pricing model is designed to make legal protection more accessible for everyone. It was created by following the best examples from other countries, where similar fee structures help individuals and non-profits protect their rights.

The goal is to stop unfair domain registrations and help keep the Estonian internet space safe and clean.

The Committee handles about 10 cases each year, and over 15 years, it has ruled on well-known domains like kerstikaljulaid.ee, tallinnalennujaam.ee, and starbucks.ee. You can read more about the principles of the Domain Disputes Committee here https://www.internet.ee/domain-disputes/domain-disputes-committee.