GoDaddy Challenges Court Order Targeting Fake Domain Names
Domain registrar GoDaddy has challenged a December 2025 Delhi High Court order. The ruling imposes industry-wide directions aimed at curbing fake websites impersonating brands.
Internet domain registrar GoDaddy, along with registrars Namecheap and Hosting Concepts, has reportedly challenged a Delhi High Court ruling from December 2025. The order imposes industry-wide directives applicable to all domain name registrars (DNRs).
GoDaddy argues that the court's ruling, designed to curb fake, brand-impersonating websites, undermines user privacy, imposes impractical compliance obligations, and could have global implications for domain name governance, according to Reuters.
The appeal is pending before a larger bench of the High Court, with the matter scheduled for hearing on July 16. The directives stem from a December 2025 judgment in a suit filed by over 20 companies, including Amazon, McDonald's, and Microsoft, against fraudulent websites impersonating their brands.
GoDaddy contends that eliminating default privacy features would force the public disclosure of personal information for ordinary website owners, exposing them to privacy and security risks like stalking and harassment and potentially conflicting with India's data protection laws. The company stated that DNRs are not equipped to determine legitimate interest when domain owner contact details are requested.