A dispute over PapaJohns.cn is shining a light on how aggressive some Chinese domain registrants have become as Western brands push deeper into the country’s smaller cities.
The registrant didn’t just ignore Papa John’s cease-and-desist letter—they fired back with a defiant response that forced the pizza chain to escalate legally. It’s a pattern we’re seeing more often. Chinese cybersquatting operations are getting bolder, especially targeting Western food, clothing, and consumer brands trying to break into Tier-2 and Tier-3 markets where brand awareness is still developing.
For companies dealing with China domain disputes, three things matter most: whether you can prove prior use in China, how fast you act after discovering the registration, and whether your legal team understands the language and procedural quirks of Chinese dispute systems. Outcomes are all over the map—some brands win easily, others get stuck in multi-year battles.
What’s Next
The big question is whether Papa John’s takes this to a formal UDRP or files under China’s CNDRP system instead. Each has different timelines and success rates for Western complainants.
This case might also push other global brands to start monitoring .cn registrations more aggressively before they become problems. Right now, most companies only notice when a customer complains or a registrant starts demanding payment.
For domain investors, China remains a high-risk play. The enforcement climate is unpredictable, registrants are getting more confrontational, and legal costs can spiral quickly if you end up on the wrong side of a trademark owner’s expansion plans.
