If you’re building your medspa brand online, choosing the right name—and securing your domain—is critical. But a recent UDRP case involving two Idaho-based spas shows what can happen when businesses try to strong-arm their way into domain ownership.

In short?

One spa got accused of reverse domain name hijacking—and lost.

Here’s what happened, what it means, and how to protect your medspa from making the same costly mistakes.

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The Medspa Domain Dispute: Renu Medispa vs. Renew Aesthetics

In March 2025, Renu Medispa, which operates in southern Idaho, filed a UDRP complaint (Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy) against a northern Idaho spa called Renew Aesthetics & IV Hydration Bar, which owns the domain RenewCDA.com.

Renu claimed trademark rights in the name “Renu Medispa” and tried to argue that RenewCDA.com was confusingly similar. But here’s the problem:

Renew Aesthetics registered the domain in 2018 and had used it consistently for years.
Renu only had state trademark registrations, which don’t carry much weight under UDRP rules.
The court had already denied Renu’s request for a trademark-based injunction in a related lawsuit.

The arbitration panel found that Renu filed the complaint in bad faith—even failing to disclose the previous court ruling—and ruled that this was a case of reverse domain name hijacking (RDNH).

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What Is Reverse Domain Name Hijacking (RDNH)?

RDNH happens when a company files a domain complaint under false pretenses—trying to take a domain they don’t truly have rights to. It’s essentially using trademark claims to bully another business into giving up a domain name.

In this case, the panel said Renu should’ve known they had no grounds for a complaint and were using the process inappropriately.

How This Applies to Medspa Owners and Brand-Builders

Whether you’re launching a new medspa or trying to expand your existing brand, this case is a big flashing neon sign: play smart when it comes to trademarks and domain strategy.

✅ 1. Descriptive Medspa Names Are Hard to Protect

Words like “renew,” “glow,” or even “medispa” are considered descriptive, and the more generic your name, the harder it is to enforce your rights in court—or in domain disputes.

Pro Tip: Choose a distinctive brand name that sets you apart and can be federally protected. Think outside the “spa” box.

Pro Tip

Choose a distinctive brand name that sets you apart and can be federally protected. Think outside the “spa” box.

✅ 2. State Trademarks Offer Limited Protection

While state trademarks are easy to register, they don’t give you the kind of legal clout needed for serious online brand protection. The UDRP panel basically shrugged at Renu’s state-level registrations.

Pro Tip

Invest in a federal trademark through the USPTO, and support it with real marketing, recognition, and usage evidence.

✅ 3. Domain Disputes Aren’t the Place for Brand Battles

UDRP exists to protect businesses from cybersquatting—not to settle local disputes over similar names. If a competitor is using a name similar to yours, and they’re doing so in good faith, trying to seize their domain will likely backfire.

Pro Tip: Focus on differentiating your brand, not duplicating someone else’s.

Pro Tip

Focus on differentiating your brand, not duplicating someone else’s.

✅ 4. Be Transparent in Legal Disputes

The panel hit Renu hard for not disclosing prior legal outcomes and abandoned trademark applications. Trying to game the system with half-truths or omissions can lead to legal and reputational damage.

Pro Tip: When dealing with trademark or domain issues, always disclose material facts—because search engines, courts, and panels don’t like surprises.