Frequently asked questions
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Who created .eu?
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What exactly has the EU done to create the .eu TLD?
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Is it possible to register domain names directly with the Registry?
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How does EURid decide wether or not a domain name is available
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Has the Regulation provided for any protection against abusive registrations?
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What happens if there is a dispute about a .eu domain name?
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What is the purpose of the Code of Conduct?
1. Who created .eu?
The creation of .eu was decided by the Council of Heads of State or Government of all EU Member States in Lisbon in 2000 as part of the eEurope initiative to stress the importance that Europe gives to the Information Society and to electronic commerce to enhance Europe’s competitiveness. Thereafter, the legal framework for '.eu' was created by the European Parliament and the EU Council of Ministers on a proposal from the European Commission.
2. What exactly has the EU done to create the .eu TLD?
Following the adoption of the Regulation on the implementation of the .eu Top Level Domain on the 25 March 2002, (EC Regulation No 733/2002) the European Commission was entrusted to take all necessary steps to implement the .eu TLD.
The EC Regulation No 733/2002 established that the .eu TLD is managed and operated by a private sector, non-profit organization (the Registry), in consultation with the European Internet community. Consequentially, the Commission invited applications from interested parties to act as the .eu TLD Registry in a call for expressions of interest published on 3 September 2002 and closed on 25 October 2002. The decision of the Commission to select EURid - the European Registry for Internet Domains - took place on 21 May 2003. The Commission concluded a service concession contract with EURID in October 2004.
Following the signature of the contract between the European Commission and EURid, the Commission authorized EURid to negotiate with ICANN an agreement for the delegation of the .eu TLD. After approval of this agreement by the Commission, enshrines the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers' (ICANN) official recognition of EURid as the body appointed by the European Union to run the .eu TLD for the next five years. Subsequently, appropriate steps were taken by EURid for the inclusion of .eu in the global Internet Domain Name System (DNS).
In May 2005 the .eu TLD was put in the internet root for first time and the launch of the .eu was announced to take place before the end of 2005. EURid was also in charge of completing the Registration Policy for .eu in consultation with the Commission and other interested parties. This Registration Policy sets out the technical and administrative procedures used by EURid regarding domain name registrations, cancellations, transfers, suspensions, revocation and so forth.
According to Commission Regulation 874/2004, Article 10,
registration of .eu domain names starts with a phased registration for holders
of prior rights and public bodies (Sunrise Period), before opening of general
registration to the public. The Sunrise Period started on 7 December 2005 and
lasted until 7 April 2006.
3. Is it possible to register domain names directly with the Registry?
No. The EC Regulation No 733/2002 of 22 of April 2002 on the implementation of the .eu Top Level Domain determines that the Registry for .eu not to act as a registrar itself. EURid has been appointed as the .eu Registry and thus will not accept directly domain names registrations. Therefore applications have to be done through EURid's accredited registrars.
Historically on the internet, Registry and Registrar functions were most often provided by the same organisation. More recently, these functions have been split to allow for competition in the registration services business.
4. How does EURid decide whether or not a domain name is available
The “first come, first served” principle is being applied to all applications for .eu domain names. During the sunrise period, if two applicants had a prior right to the same name, EURid accepted the application that it received first. The same principle now applies to applications from the general public, from 7 April 2006.
Administrative rules on how to register domain names are laid down in EURid’s registration policy. The registration policy, rules, terms and conditions and guidelines can all be found on the EURid website.
5. Has the Regulation provided for any protection against abusive registrations?
Yes. Certain restrictions will be enforced to avoid abusive
or speculative registrations. In particular the Registry has put in place an
initial phased introduction of names better known as
Sunrise Period, in order to
ensure appropriate protection for the holders of certain prior rights. Public
bodies have also had the opportunity to register their names in advance of the
general public.
In addition to this phased registration, the
Czech Arbitration Court administers
the alternative dispute resolution procedure (ADR) to resolve disputes between
domain names holders as well as disputes in relation to individual decisions
taken by the registry.
The ADR is an extra-judicial settlement of conflicts policy, adopted in accordance with the principles set out in EC Regulation No 732/2002 and that was
modelled according to the recommandations of the World Intellectual Property
Organisation. The ADR procedure is governed by the
ADR rules and supplemental
rules whose interpretation and application shall be done in the light of the EU
framework which prevails in case of conflict.
The ADR procedure is based on recovery of cost and try to resolve promplty
disputes. Fees charged for an ADR proceeding depend on the number of panelist ro
decide the dispute and the number of domain names involved in.
6. What happens if there is a dispute about a .eu domain name?
Domain name disputes arise inevitably under all domain name systems because of the considerable commercial value that a specific domain name may represent, particularly for businesses. In 2002 for example, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) alone dealt with over 15,000 disputed names on behalf of the .info registry that had been launched the previous year.
To ensure an easier and quick resolution of domain name disputes under .eu, the EU’s legal framework for the registration of domain names under .eu provides for an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) procedure and lays down clear rules for implementing it. The .eu ADR is modelled on the ADR system currently applied by the World Intellectual Property Organisation to solve disputes concerning domain names registered in .com, .net, .org and in a number of national top level domains. '.eu' arbitration is provided by an Arbitration Court based in Prague, via a secure online platform and in all EU languages, which saves on translation costs and enhances the accessibility of the arbitration procedure to all EU citizens.
An ADR may be initiated:
• where a domain name is identical or confusingly similar to a name in which a right is recognised or established by national and/or Community law, provided that this name; and either:
(a) has been registered by its holder without rights or legitimate interest in the name or
(b) has been registered or is being used in bad faith.
The ADR procedure is described in detail on http://www.adreu.eurid.eu/
The .eu ADR system is based on recovery of costs, provides adequate procedural guaranties for the parties concerned. So far, there have been 193 decisions rendered by the Arbitration Court based in Prague (status: 15 September 2006).
The .eu ADR is a fast track extra-judicial system for the settlement of conflicts, which applies without prejudice to any Court proceedings that an interested party may initiate against a holder of a domain name or against a decision of EURid.
7. What is the purpose of the Code of Conduct?
EURid has set up a voluntary Code of Conduct for its accredited registrars. Registrars who subscribe to the principles laid down in the Code of Conduct will be allowed to display a distinctive Code of Conduct logo. This logo can help consumers to make an informed choice when selecting registration services, by providing an indication of those registrars who are prepared to work to additional, consumer-friendly standards. For further details on the Code of conduct: www.coc.eu
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| Last update: 26/08/2009 |