Safenames

AFNIC to offer Internationalized Domain Names

Safenames — Tue, 08 May 2012 16:04:56 +0000

We wanted to let you know that AFNIC, the operator for .fr, .yt, .pm, .wf, .tf, and .re, has announced that beginning May 3, 2012, anyone will be able to register domain names under the .fr, .yt, .pm, .wf, .tf, and .re TLDs—with new characters. Since 1985, French Internet users have had to compose domain names in the “Latin without diacritics” format based solely on letters (A-Z), numbers (0-9), and the hyphen (-). In languages with diacritics, IDNs are the best means of communication for holders of domain names to reflect the pronunciation of their identity or their brand. This will also be an opportunity for holders to optimize their naming strategies. The phases for this launch are:

Grandfathering Phase (May 3 – July 2, 2012) :: During this phase anyone holding a registered .fr, .yt, .pm, .wf, .tf, or .re domain will be able to register the IDN equivalent. For example the holder of “toto.fr” can register “tôtô.fr“, “tötö.fr“, etc.

General Availability (opens July 3, 2012) :: Domains will be awarded on a “first-come, first-serve” basis and if local presence requirements are met, you’ll be able to register an IDN domain name.

If you have any questions about IDN domains or would like to register an IDN domain name, please contact your Safenames Account Manager or contact Safenames Customer Support in the UK at +44 1908 200022 (emeasales@safenames.net), or in the US at +1.703.574.5313 (nasales@safenames.net).

More Flexible Registration Options Available for .UK Domains

Safenames — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 20:57:30 +0000

The registry for .uk domain names (co.uk, .org.uk, me.uk, gov.uk and ac.uk) is lifting the current ‘2-year minimum’ registration/renewal term requirement for all .uk domain names and offering more flexible registration options. Until now, you had to register or renew these domains for a minimum of two years and the only term options were 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 years. Effective May 1, 2012 you can register and/or renew .uk domain names for any term, up to 10 years (i.e., 1, 2, 3…10), just as you can for .COM domains.

If you have any questions about these changes or would like to register a .uk domain name, please contact your Safenames Account Manager or contact Safenames Customer Support at +44 1908 200022 (emeasales@safenames.net), or the Safenames US office at +1.703.574.5313 (nasales@safenames.net).

Taiwanese NIC Authority Tightens Regulations For ORG.TW Domains

Safenames — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 09:39:14 +0000

TWNIC (Taiwan Network Information Center) have implemented a new regulation for .ORG.TW domains. The new policy is in place for the Renewal and Transfer of .ORG.TW domain names in addition to the creation of new .ORG.TW names.

This policy requires that the Registrant of .ORG.TW domain names shall be a non-profit organization legally registered under the laws of Taiwan. The only exception is for foreign non-profit organizations that provide supporting documentation of their non-profit status under the competent laws of their jurisdiction, and if the Domain Name Committee of TWNIC approves such documentation. If you already hold a .ORG.TW domain you will have to prove your non-profit status.

Registrants seeking to CREATE, RENEW or TRANSFER their .ORG.TW domain names need to provide the following documentation:

• Supporting Documentation of the legal status of the Registrant. This has to be a non-profit organization.

• A written application with the description of the type of transaction. (new, renew, transfer.)

• The length of the renewal with a maximum of 10 years. Please note that if the domain is only renewed for 1 year, the Registrant will need to re-submit a similar application next year in order to renew for additional years.

• A description of how your organization will use the .ORG.TW domain name.

If you have any questions about .ORG.TW domains or would like to check the availability of an .ORG.TW domain name, please contact your Safenames account manager.

Portuguese Registry (.PT) Approves Less Restrictive Requirements

Safenames — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 20:05:51 +0000

It is now easier to register a .PT domain name.

The Portuguese registry has opened a special .PT registration period for trademark holders. From now through April 30th, 2012, any business, organization or individual may register .PT domains using their registered word and/or figurative trademark in any jurisdiction, not just Portugal. This is the first step toward removing all Local Contact requirements for this extension.

On May 1, 2012 open registration begins and all requirements to register a .PT domain will be lifted, enabling anyone to order a .pt domain. All applications will be processed on a “first come, first served” basis and no additional documentation will be require to complete a registration.

If you have any questions about .PT domains or trademarks, or would like to check the availability of a .PT domain name, please contact your Safenames account manager.

Poland will lead the way in e-Commerce growth in 2012

Safenames — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 21:27:40 +0000

Have you registered your brand(s) in the .PL country code extension? If not, you may want to secure your online brand in Poland today. With over 2M domains in the .PL zone file, it is not a surprise that a recent article in Internet Retailer Magazine stated that analysts predict that e-commerce in Poland will grow 24% in 2012, nearly 8% higher than the projected average. Poland is just one of many Eastern European countries that is expected to achieve significant growth in online sales over the next few years. To read more about e-commerce growth in Europe, you can view the full article at: http://www.internetretailer.com/2012/02/29/poland-leads-european-e-commerce-growth.

Landrush for .JP.NET Has Launched.

Safenames — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:58:41 +0000

The Landrush Phase (Phase two of four) for .JP.NET (Japan’s New Domain) opened on Monday, February 20, 2012. This domain can help enable your corporation, e-commerce platform, blog, brand, etc. to simultaneously network with Japanese and global communities. It will also make available thousands of keywords, place names, one and two-character domains and domains with Japanese characters.

Landrush is open to all/any applicant(s), regardless of location, and with no restrictions.

If you have any questions about the .JP.NET Landrush or would like to check the availability of a .JP.NET domain name, please contact your Safenames account manager. You may also contact the Safenames UK office at +44 1908 200022 and emeasales@safenames.net, or the Safenames US office at +1.703.574.5313 and nasales@safenames.net.

Trademark Sunrise for JP.NET to Launch January 16th, 2012

Safenames — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:35:54 +0000

The Trademark Sunrise phase (Phase one of four) for .JP.NET (Japan’s New Domain) will open January 16, 2012. This new domain is a marriage of two highly recognized domain extensions, .JP and .NET. It will enable your corporation, e-commerce platform, blog, brand, etc. to simultaneously network with Japanese and global communities. It will also make available thousands of keywords, place names, one and two-character domains and domains with Japanese characters.

Sunrise Registration Details:

Beginning January 16, 2012 (through February 17, 2012), Sunrise will open exclusively to trademark owners globally. Applicants must demonstrate ownership of a trademark that was registered prior to July 30, 2011 and is identical to the desired domain name.

There are three subsequent registration phases scheduled for non-trademark holders:

Phase 2: Landrush (February 20, 2012 – March 16, 2012). Keywords, city names, even one and two character domains are all available. Companies without trademarks can get a .JP.NET domain name. Applicant can be based anywhere and there are no restrictions.
Phase 3: .JP & .NET Owner Promotion (March 19, 2012 – April 20, 2012). A special invitation for .JP and .NET registrants to obtain their matching .JP.NET domains (including official Organizational/Geographic Type .JP domains), where that Domain Name was not previously registered or applied for during Sunrise or Landrush, and/or excluded by the Registry.
Phase 4: General Availability (April 24, 2012). No requirements. Domains are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you have any questions about the .JP.NET Sunrisephase or would like to check the availability of a .JP.NET domain name, please contact your Safenames account manager. You may also contact the Safenames UK office at +44 1908 200022 and emeasales@safenames.net, or the Safenames US office at +1.703.574.5313 and nasales@safenames.net.

.XXX General Availability Opens December 6, 2011!

Safenames — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 20:35:05 +0000

General Availability opens tomorrow for .XXX domains. If you did not get the .XXX domains you wanted during the Sunrise or Landrush period(s), now is the time to register them.

What you need to know.

General Availability is open to all businesses and individuals on a first come, first served basis.
Any member of the adult Sponsored Community can apply without pre-existing rights or qualifications unlike in the previous launch periods.
Members of the adult Sponsored Community—verification is done at the ICM Registry before sites will resolve.
Non-members of the adult Sponsored Community—there is no verification and/or requirements, but these .XXX domain names will not resolve.

If you would like to register a .XXX domain(s) log in to the Safenames IDP today. If you have any questions about .XXX, please contact Safenames customer support at +44-1-908-200022 or +1-703-574-5313.

AFNIC Changing Registration Rules

Safenames — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 20:18:21 +0000

AFNIC (the French Network Information Centre, a non-profit association that manages the .fr and .re registries) is changing the registration rules for AFNIC operated extensions as of tomorrow (Dec 6, 2011). This is good news because the local contact requirements for some AFNIC operated extensions (listed below) will be less restrictive and thus, will simplify the registration process. The extensions are:

.fr (France)
.wf (Wallis and Futuna)
.tf (French Southern and Antarctic territories)
.re(Réunion)
.pm (St. Pierre and Miquelon)
.yt (Mayotte)

What does this mean? AFNIC will now allow domains to be registered to registrants who are individuals or entities in any European Union countries, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. If you are unable to meet the local contact requirements, Safenames Local Contact Service enables you to register domains in these (and many other) extensions.

Additionally, the following sub-extensions will no longer be open for new registrations after December 6, 2011. But all currently registered domains in the sub-extensions listed below under the previous AFNIC registration policy will be grandfathered and will continue to be maintained in the .fr zone file:

com.fr
.tm.fr
.asso.fr

Finally, AFNIC has also changed the registration rules on .fr domains names for companies and individual owners of a registered trademarks that are valid in France, but whose country of residence/incorporation is not within one of the regions listed above. These specific entities will no longer be eligible to register new domains, but will be able to keep their domain names.

If you have any questions about these changes or would like to register domains with these extensions, please contact Safenames Customer Support at +44.1908.200.022 or +1.703.574.5313.

Landrush for .XXX Opened Today

Safenames — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 20:42:21 +0000

The Landrush registration period for .XXX domains opened today (November 8, 2011). If you did not get the .XXX domains you wanted during Sunrise A because you did not have a registered trademark or qualify as a grandfathered site, now is the time to order the .XXX names you want.

The Details:

The Landrush Period is open only to members of the sponsored community or companies that are conducting business within the sponsored community
Landrush is not first come, first served. At the end of the eighteen day Landrush period, any .XXX domain names with a single applicant will be automatically registered to the requestor. Any .XXX domain names with more than one applicant will be placed into a closed auction between the parties who submitted a Landrush order
You can register domains as keywords related to your business—and many great .XXX domains are still available
Landrush ends on November 25, 2011

To submit your .XXX order request log in to the Safenames IDP today. If you have any questions about .XXX, contact your Safenames account manager or call Safenames customer service at +44-1-908-200022 or +1-703-574-5313.