Yes. Buying and reselling domains is legal in the UK. What is unlawful is cybersquatting: registering a name in bad faith to exploit someone's trade mark or goodwill. .uk disputes use Nominet's Dispute Resolution Service; the Trade Marks Act 1994 and passing-off law also apply. (Nominet, n.d.; Trade Marks Act 1994.)
Consumer help · Updated 4 June 2026
Is domain flipping legal in the UK?
Is domain flipping illegal?
No. Buying and reselling domains, domain flipping, is legal in the UK. What is unlawful is cybersquatting: registering a name in bad faith to exploit someone's trade mark or goodwill. Disputes over .uk names are handled by Nominet's Dispute Resolution Service; the Trade Marks Act 1994 and passing-off law also apply. (Nominet, n.d.; Trade Marks Act 1994.)
Legitimate secondary sales of generic or brandable names are normal. Problems arise when registration targets another party's mark or reputation. Nominet DRS provides a .uk-specific route; civil trade mark and passing-off remedies exist alongside.
Full answer: Is domain flipping illegal
Nominet Dispute Resolution Service
For .uk names, Nominet operates a Dispute Resolution Service for conflicts over rights to a domain. That is separate from ordinary resale of generic names you legitimately own.
Trade marks and passing off
The Trade Marks Act 1994 and passing-off law can apply where registration targets another party's mark or reputation. Flipping generic or descriptive names is not the same conduct.
Sources
- Nominet. (n.d.). Dispute Resolution Service.
- Trade Marks Act 1994.