Require unused website URLs to be made available after 12 months

Background

We urge the Government to ban people hoarding or "squatting" on domain names (website URLs) without real use. We believe if a domain isn’t used for a live website, email or business within a year, it should be made available.

Additional details

We believe this could help new businesses access domain names without high resale prices. We believe many new businesses are struggling to get website names as many are bought and left unused. We believe this blocks entrepreneurs from building their brand online and can create unfair barriers. We believe domains should be for doing business—not profiteering. Releasing unused ones could support start-ups and fair competition. We believe domain squatting blocks entrepreneurs from launching with a meaningful domain, is digital gatekeeping, and stifles innovation.

Where it’s popular

Constituencies with the most signatures on this petition.