Questions in the Domain Specific Information category

• What does the Nexus Confirmation email mean?

  Related Topics: .US

  Detailed answer
   

  If you received a Nexus Confirmation email from NeuStar, you need to prove that you comply with the Nexus requirements.

  You must reply to the email you received from NeuStar, giving a written response describing how you qualify under one or some of the Nexus categories.

  • Category 1 – You are a US citizen or permanent resident
  • Category 2 – You are a US business or organization
  • Category 3 – You are a “foreign entity organization that has a bona fide presence in the United States of America or any of its possessions or territories.”

  If you do not respond to the email or are unable to explain or demonstrate that you meet any of the Nexus Requirements, you will risk loosing the domain name in question.

  You will be given 30 days to demonstrate to the Registry Operator that you do comply with the Nexus.  If you do not demonstrate compliance within this timeframe the Registry Operator will delete the domain from the registry database.  You will not receive a refund for the registration fee.   Once your registration of the domain has been deleted, someone else may register the domain name for their use.

  If your registration is deleted because you failed to demonstrate that you meet the US Nexus Requirements, there will be no refund of registration fees made to Registrants or Registrars.

   

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• Why did NeuStar send me an email?

  Related Topics: .US

  Detailed answer
   

  As Registry Operator for the ccTLD .US, NeuStar has an agreement with the United States Department of Commerce that requires them to perform random “spot checks” on registrations in the usTLD to ensure that they comply with the US Nexus Requirements.   A copy of these requirements can be found at http://www.neustar.us/policies/docs/ustld_nexus_requirements.pdf

  Each week Neustar will select a random sample of registrations.  You may receive a maximum of one Nexus Confirmation email per domain registration in the .US TLD.   However, not all Registrants will receive a Nexus confirmation email.   NeuStar will only perform spot-checks so it is possible that you may not receive a Nexus Confirmation email.

   

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• Are there any special requirements for registering a .US domain?

  Related Topics: .US, Registration Considerations

  Detailed answer
   

  Prospective Registrants in the usTLD must fall in one of three U.S. Nexus categories and must certify that they have a “bona fide presence in the United States.”

  Prospective Registrants must indicate their use of the domain by selecting one of the following categories: Note: By agreeing to the policies of the registry, Registrants agree to having one of the requirements below.  Nothing further is required from the provider to prove the Registrant has a legitimate registration.

  Nexus Category 1
  A natural person (i) who is a United States citizen, (ii) a permanent resident of the United States of America or any of its possessions or territories, or (iii) whose primary place of domicile is in the United States of America or any of its possessions.

  Nexus Category 2
  An United States entity or organization that is (i) incorporated within one of the fifty (50) U.S. states, the District of Columbia, or any of the United States possessions or territories or organized, or otherwise constituted under the laws of a state of the United States of America, the District of Columbia or any of its possessions or (including a federal, state, or local government of the United States, or a political subdivision thereof, and unincorporated organizations based in the United States).

  Nexus Category 3
  An entity or organization (including a federal, state, or local government of the United States, or a political subdivision thereof) that has a bona fide presence in the United States of America or any of its possessions or territories.

  • If foreign entity, Applicant must state country of citizenship.
  • Check from category list, basis for compliance with Nexus requirement – regularly sells goods in the United States; regularly provides services in the United States; regularly engages in business activities, trade or other business (commercial or non-commercial including not-for-profit) relations in the United States;
  • Maintains an office or other property within the United States.

  The Registry Operator conducts weekly random checks for US nexus requirements.   They select a small sample (approximately 0.5% of new registrations) and send the selected Registrants a Nexus confirmation email.  To review the text of this email click here.

  Each selected Registrant will have 30 days to respond to the Registry Operator.   If the Registrant fails to respond, the Registry Operator will attempt a second contact with the Registrant.   If there is no response to the second contact, the Registry Operator will delete the domain name.   The Registry Operator is not refunding registration fees for deleted names.

   

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• What are the registration terms for a .US domain?

  Related Topics: .US, Registration Length

  Detailed answer
   

  Registrants are required to register a .US domain for a minimum one year registration period and a maximum 10 year registration period.

   

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• What is a .US domain?

  Related Topics: .US

  Detailed answer
   

  .US is the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for the United States.

  Prospective Registrants in the usTLD must fall in one of three U.S. Nexus categories and must certify that they have a “bona fide presence in the United States.”

  Categories:

  1. You are a US citizen or permanent resident
  2. You are a US business or organization.
  3. You are a “foreign entity organization that has a bona fide presence in the United States of America or any of its possessions or territories.”

   

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• What is an "orphaned" .UK Domain?

  Related Topics: .UK

  Detailed answer
   

  An “orphaned” .UK domain is when your CO.UK/.ORG.UK domain name is under the TUCOWS-CA IPS tag but it is not associated with a Domain Provider.

  Tucows is a wholesale domain name Registrar, we do not provide support or service to individual domain owners.  All support and service for your domain name registration must be done through a Domain Provider.

  Domain Providers are responsible for supporting their own customers.   Please contact them directly and they will add your .UK domain to their account.  If the Provider has any questions, they can contact Tucows directly.

   

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• What are the registration periods for .UK domains?

  Related Topics: .UK, Registration Length

  Detailed answer
   

  .UK domain names can only be registered for a minimum/maximum of 2 years.

   

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• What is a .CO.UK or .ORG.UK domain?

  Related Topics: .UK

  Detailed answer
   

  .UK is the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Great Britian & the United Kingdom.

  .CO.UK is used for commercial enterprises, and .ORG.UK is used for non-commercial organizations

   

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• What are the registration terms for a .TV domain?

  Related Topics: .TV, Registration Considerations

  Detailed answer
   

  .TV domains can be registered for a minimum of 1 year to a maximum of 10 years.

   

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• What is a .TV domain?

  Related Topics: .TV

  Detailed answer
   

  .TV is the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Tuvalu.  It is commonly referred to as the “television” extension.

  The .TV Registry is open to all individuals including small businesses and large corporations.

   

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• How do I change the email forwarding address on my .NAME domain?

  Related Topics: .NAME, Email Forwarding

  Detailed answer
   

  You can change the address your mail is forwarded to via the “Domain Extras” section of a Domain Management Interface.   Simply edit the email address listed in the under “Forwarding Email Address” and select “Save Configuration”

  Please note that the email forwarding option is only available if you ordered the service at the time you registered your domain name.

   

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• What are the registration terms for a .NAME domain?

  Related Topics: .NAME, Registration Length

  Detailed answer
   

  The minimum registration term is one year, and registrations can be made for terms of 1, 2 and 10 years.

   

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• What is a .NAME domain?

  Related Topics: .NAME

  Detailed answer
   

  .NAME is the only gTLD (global Top Level Domain) authorized by ICANN exclusively for private individuals.

  Since the Registry has reserved all second-level names, .NAME registrations are made at the third level, for example FIRSTNAME.LASTNAME.NAME.   Registrations are restricted to individuals.

   

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• What are the registration terms for a .INFO domain?

  Related Topics: .INFO, Registration Length

  Detailed answer
   

  Registrants are required to register a .INFO domain for a minimum one year registration period and a maximum 10 year registration period.

   

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• What is a .INFO domain?

  Related Topics: .INFO

  Detailed answer
   

  .INFO is the Internet’s first unrestricted top-level domain since .COM.

  There are no restrictions on who may register .INFO names. .INFO was created for general use around the world.

   

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• Are there any special requirements for registering a .DE domain?

  Related Topics: .DE, Registration Considerations

  Detailed answer
   

  Yes. In order to register a .DE domain, you must have presence in Germany, as well as functioning name servers.

  Local Presence required

  The Registrant or the person named as the Administrative Contact person for a .DE domain must reside in Germany.  The Registry will validate this requirement at the time off registration application and if not fulfilled, the registration will fail.

  Active Name Servers Required

  The two required name servers that are authoritative for the domain name must be active at the time of registration and on different subnets.  If this is not the case, the order will complete, however there will be a 30-day window in which you must update your name servers.   If this is not done, the registry will delete the domain name, and refunds will not be given.  The Name Servers associated with the domain name at the time of the order cannot be changed during the 30-day window.

  PLEASE NOTE: If a name is submitted without two authoritative, active Name Servers, an automated email will be sent by the Tucows system to the Registrant informing them of the need for authoritative, active Name Servers, the timeline to fulfill this requirement and how to inform the system that the Name Servers are now active.

  As well, the Name Servers associated with .DE domains must reside on different subnets to avoid a single point of failure.   The Registry Operator makes this determination by reviewing the IP addresses of the Name Servers.   If the address differs in one of the first three octets, then the Name Servers are deemed to be on different subnets.

   

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• What are the registration terms for a .DE domain?

  Related Topics: .DE, Registration Length

  Detailed answer
   

  Registrants are required to register a .DE domain for one year.

   

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• What is a .DE domain?

  Related Topics: .DE

  Detailed answer
   

  .DE is the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Germany.

  This Registry has only minimal rules concerning local presence and Name Servers.  The Registrant OR the Administrative Contact must reside in Germany and the two name servers associated with the registration must be authoritative, active and on different subnets to avoid a single point of failure.

   

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• How can I Lock or Unlock my domain name?

  Related Topics: .CN, .DE, .UK, Locking and Unlocking

  Detailed answer
   

  Unfortunately this type of domain cannot be locked.  This is a limitation of the Registry that maintains the central database for this type of domain,  not a restriction imposed by Tucows.

   

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• What are the registration terms for a .CN domain?

  Related Topics: .CN, Registration Length

  Detailed answer
   

  Registrants are required to register a .CN domain for a minimum one year registration period and a maximum 5 year registration period.

   

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• What is a .CN domain?

  Related Topics: .CN

  Detailed answer
   

  .CN is the country code for China.

  The .CN domain is open to all international businesses and organizations on a first come, first-served basis.

  Both second level and third level domains are available, you can chose from:

  • .CN
  • .COM.CN
  • .NET.CN
  • .ORG.CN

   

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• What are the registration terms for a .CC domain?

  Related Topics: .CC, Registration Length

  Detailed answer
   

  Registrants are required to register a .CC domain for a minimum one year registration period and a maximum 10 year registration period.

   

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• What is a .CC domain?

  Related Topics: .CC

  Detailed answer
   

  .CC is the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Cocos (Keeling Islands), and is also accepted to represent “Chinese Corporation,” “Country Club,” and others.

  Since there are no restrictions on Registrants, anyone can register a domain name with a .CC.

   

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• How do I register a .CA domain that is in the TBR stage?

  Related Topics: .CA, Registration Considerations

  Detailed answer
   

  Tucows is a wholesale domain name Registrar, we do not sell domain names to the general public.  Please chose a Domain Provider to register a domain in the TBR state.

  In order to register a domain in the TBR stage you will need to have an existing .CA domain name.   As well, the TBR registration window is only open between 14:00 and 15:00, Ottawa time, 31 days after the domain name expires.

  If you use an existing Domain Provider, please use them for additional information on the process.

   

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• What do I do if one my .CA registrations is Blocked?

  Related Topics: .CA, .CA Blocked Domains, Registration Considerations

  Detailed answer
   

  Your Provider can keep track of the status of any of your pending .CA registrations. In order to complete a blocked .CA order, permission must be obtained from each of the Administrative Contacts listed for the blocked domains.

  If in fact, you already own the blocked .CA domain then your order should be processed as a domain additional to your existing Registrant Profile.  This will then bypass the Blocker Resolution process, which would introduce an unnecessary delay in obtaining the domain.

  If you order request does having an existing conflicting domain, the blocked .CA domain order is then flagged in our system.   We then contact all of the Administrative Contacts listed for all of the possible conflicting .CA domains by email to obtain their consent in allowing you the domain.

  If the Administrative Contacts of the conflicting .CA names approve this process, we then submit the order to CIRA. If we do not hear from them or they do not approve your request, we must cancel the order.

  CIRA will then send an email to the Administrative Contacts of the conflicting .CA names requesting that they visit CIRA’s website to approve the order.  The Administrative Contacts have 14 days to approve the request via CIRA’s web confirmation system.  Once all the confirmation are obtained, the order will be completed.

  Before any action is taken by Tucows, we suggest that you individually contact each of the Administrative Contacts listed to make them aware of your pending registration and to let them know what you or your client plan to use the domain name for, etc.

  We have noticed that many of these registrations are rejected due to the owners of the blocked domains not fully understanding what the domain name is going to be used for, so they simply deny the request.

  The .CA blocker process is designed by CIRA to protect the interests of the existing domain Registrants by allowing them to approve or deny the registrations of a higher or lower level of a particular .CA domain name.

   

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• What is a Conflicting (or “Blocked” ) .CA domain?

  Related Topics: .CA, .CA Blocked Domains, Registration Considerations

  Detailed answer
   

  In Canada, there are provincial second level domains for each .CA domain.   If a Registrant own “EXAMPLE.CA” or “EXAMPLE.PV.CA” (where .PV is the provincial code), the CIRA system automatically “reserves” all variants of the name.

  For example, if I have JOEY.ON.CA and no other JOEY.PV.CA (or JOEY.CA) names exist, I have the “first” right to register any other JOEY.PV.CA names.

  For example: JOEY.AB.CA (for Alberta) or JOEY.BC.CA (for British Columbia) etc.  If the domain being registered has a second, third or fourth level match of an already registered .CA domain, it is considered a conflicting domain and enters into the blocker resolution process.

   

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• How do I register a Municipal .CA domain?

  Related Topics: .CA, .CA Municipal Domains, Registration Considerations

  Detailed answer
   

  In order to process a municipal registration for a .CA domain, the Registrant must first have authorization from the municipality.

  CIRA requires that the Registrant complete and sign a “Certificate of Authorization to Apply for Registration of a Municipal Name” form.   This form must be printed on the Municipality’s Letterhead. The forms (and more details) can be found at http://www.camunicipalforms.com

  Please note that CIRA recently lifted the requirement that municipal .CA names must begin with the prefix that best describes the municipality (ie. city, town, ville, etc.)

  Under the old system, the city of Vancouver could only register CITY.VANCOUVER.BC.CA however under the new policy they can now register VANCOUVER.CA if they wish.  Unfortunately they cannot register VANCOUVER.BC.CA.

   

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• Can I modify the registration details on a .CA order I just placed?

  Related Topics: .CA

  Detailed answer
   

  Unfortunately once an order has been submitted and is in progress there is no way to update the registration details.   If there is a spelling mistake in the contact information etc, everything except for the Organization name can be updated post-registration through the Domain Management Interface.   If the Administrative Contact email address listed is invalid you will have to wait for the order to time out (7 days) and then resubmit the registration with the correct information.

   

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• Are there any special requirements for registering a .CA domain?

  Related Topics: .CA, Registration Considerations

  Detailed answer
   

  Yes there are. CIRA has determined that the .CA name space should be developed as a key public resource for the social and economic development of all Canadians.  Accordingly, persons who wish to register a .CA domain name or sub-domain name on and after November 8, 2000 must meet certain Canadian Presence Requirements For Registrants.

  You can view these requirements at https://rr-n1-tor.opensrs.net/cira_agreement.cgi, and for additional information and examples, please see this document. (requires the Adobe Acrobat Reader)

   

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• What are the registration terms for a .CA domain?

  Related Topics: .CA, Registration Length

  Detailed answer
   

  Registrants are required to register a .CA domain for a minimum one year registration period and a maximum 10 year registration period.

   

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• What is a .CA domain?

  Related Topics: .CA

  Detailed answer
   

  .CA is the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Canada.

  The policies and administration of the dot-ca domain name will be set by CIRA and governed by Canadian law.

  To register a dot-ca domain name, an applicant must satisfy the Canadian Presence Requirements (CPR) for Registrants.

   

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• What are the registration terms for a .BIZ domain?

  Related Topics: .BIZ, Registration Length

  Detailed answer
   

  Registrants are required to register a .BIZ domain for a minimum one year registration period and a maximum 10 year registration period.

   

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• Where can I find the WHOIS for a .BIZ domain?

  Related Topics: .BIZ

  Detailed answer
   

  NeuLevel operates the .BIZ Registry.  Their authoritative WHOIS is located at http://www.whois.biz

   

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• What is a .BIZ domain?

  Related Topics: .BIZ

  Detailed answer
   

  .BIZ represents “business” domains.

  The .BIZ domain is restricted to bona fide business or commercial use, defined as one of the following:

  • To exchange goods, services, or property of any kind;
  • In the ordinary course of trade or business; or
  • To facilitate (i) the exchange of goods, services, information, or property of any kind; or, (ii) the ordinary course of trade or business

   

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• Can I register an IDN (Multilingual) Domain Name?

  Related Topics: .BIZ, .CC, .COM/NET, .DE, .INFO, .NAME, .ORG, .TV, Internationalized Domain Names (IDN)

  Detailed answer
   

  Yes you can register IDN (Internationalized Domain Name or “Multilingual”) Domain Names.

   

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• What are the registration terms for a .COM or .NET domains?

  Related Topics: .COM/NET, Registration Length

  Detailed answer
   

  Registrants are required to register a .COM or .NET domain for a minimum one year registration period and a maximum 10 year registration period.

   

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• Where can I find the WHOIS for a .COM or .NET domain?

  Related Topics: .COM/NET

  Detailed answer
   

  Verisign operates the .COM and .NET Registry. Their authorative WHOIS is located at http://registrar.verisign-grs.com/whois/

   

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• What is a .COM or .NET domain name?

  Related Topics: .COM/NET

  Detailed answer
   

  .COM and .NET were created in 1984 as one of the Internet’s original top-level domains (TLDs), along with .GOV, .EDU, .ORG and .MIL. .COM is unrestricted but was intended for commercial registrants. Similarly, .NET is also unrestricted but intended for network providers.

   

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• What are the registration terms for a .ORG domain?

  Related Topics: .ORG, Registration Length

  Detailed answer
   

  Registrants are required to register a .ORG domain for a minimum one year registration period and a maximum 10 year registration period.

   

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• What is a .ORG domain?

  Related Topics: .ORG

  Detailed answer
   

  The .ORG domain is home of noncommercial organizations on the Internet. .ORG was created in 1984 as one of the Internet’s original top-level domains (TLDs), along with .COM, .NET, .GOV, .EDU, and .MIL.  Traditionally the top-level domains of the Internet serve different user groups.  The .ORG domain was designated as an “open, unrestricted” domain, one in which anyone could register.   It has evolved into the domain used primarily for noncommercial endeavors around the world.  It is the place where people build websites encompassing a wide range of noncommercial activity, including education, philanthropy, personal projects, arts and culture, community and civic activities, social and fraternal organizations, and much much more.

   

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