Nominet UK Terms of Use – UK takes tough stance in Registration Policy

Around the glob, people are really aggravated about the lack of ‘control’ with regard to renegate domain registrants. There are people who own literally, hundreds of thousands of domains. I’ve seen their servers and all they have within them! It’s amazing, but these people are making hundreds of thousands of dollars a month from their promtions and marketing, primarily relying on the display of CPC links (generally provided by Google) for their revenue, or affiliate program links.

When these domains are ‘squatting’ on someone’s trademark that is a different story altogether. Both UK-based Nominet and teh Canadian CIRA Regitrars have taken a tough stance on allowing this ‘crap’ to make it’s way through the system. In Canada, you must provide your REGISTERED company name and the province of registration – which is checked and invalid will be rejected and your domain will be cancelled.

In the UK, Nominet has taken a similar stance and requires re-verification of the registration data provided via the registration process. Their system is intuitive to use and actually clips right along – it is just frustrating my US based registrar can’t get the data on every record the same, every time. Instead, I have to update them.

Now, I will tell you that their process is also a little ardsome, considering when you register 20 domains you must manually confirm them as all individually. Plus, there isn’t a “house” account – each domain has a separate login. Don’t know what it is, tell them the domain, they’ll tell you – but if you dont’ know the domain, there is no way to see your “list.” They need to do a little bit of work on that.

The Nominet registration agreement is a great example of how staunch the rules are getting – and for good reason!

IMPORTANT: The purpose of this document is to describe the Nominet (UK) (“We”, “Our” or “Us”) rules for the registration and use of domain names within the .uk domain and its sub-domains (the “Rules”). The Rules as amended from time to time form part of our terms and conditions and are part of your contract of registration with us. The terms and conditions are here. Except where otherwise stated in the Rules, the definitions used in the terms and conditions apply to the Rules.

1. Domain Name Definitions

1.1 is a domain name (“Domain Name”). A Domain Name is made up of several levels of domains. In the Domain Name the < .uk> is called the top or first level domain, the < .co> is the second level domain and is the third level domain. In the Domain Name the domain is called a fourth level domain and < .internet> is a third level domain, < .co> is a second level domain and < .uk> is a top level domain. In these Rules the terms top level domain (“TLD”), second level domain (“SLD”) and third level domain (“Third Level Domain”) and fourth level domain (“Fourth Level Domain”) will be used accordingly (see Fig 1).

1.2 The SLD is a sub-domain of the TLD. The Third Level Domain is a sub-domain of the SLD. The Fourth Level Domain is a sub-domain of the Third Level Domain. (see Fig 1).

1.3 .uk Domain Names can only be registered within a particular SLD. For example the Domain Name internet.co.uk is registered within the .co SLD.

1.4 When an application for registration of a Domain Name is submitted to us by you, or on your behalf, you are an applicant. If your application is successful your Domain Name will be registered by us and you will be the registrant.

2. Registration of Domain Names – SLDs administered by us

2.1 The Rules have been made by us in our capacity as designated manager for the .uk TLD with the authority of the UK Internet Community.

2.2 We administer the SLDs within the .uk TLD (except for the SLDs listed in Appendix B below) and determine which SLDs are available for registration of a Domain Name within the .uk TLD. A list of the SLDs which are administered by us are listed in Appendices A & C below.

2.3 Each application by you for a Domain Name must be an application to register one Third Level Domain within one particular SLD listed in Appendix A.

2.4 Certain organisations have registered Domain Names with us and these organisations may offer to register a Fourth Level Domain for you as a sub-domain of their Domain Name. We do not accept responsibility for any registration of Fourth Level Domains by you with other organisations, nor do we control the naming of these Fourth Level Domains by these Rules or otherwise.

2.5 Each SLD listed in Appendix A has its own specific rules (“SLD Rules”). All of the SLD Rules form part of the Rules. Where there is a conflict between the Rules and the SLD Rules, the SLD Rules take precedence.

2.6 If your application to register a Domain Name within an SLD listed in Appendix A is successful, this in no way entitles you to any right to or registration of any other Domain Name. For example an application to register the Domain Name internet.co.uk will not entitle you to a registration for the Domain Name internet.xyz.co.uk or the Domain Name internet.org.uk.