Ireland's domain registry relaxes its rules

IE Domain Registry Limited (IEDR), the company in charge of the '.ie' country-code top-level domain (ccTLD), has announced a radical overhaul of its rules on naming in the '.ie' domain, effective November 5 2001.

IEDR has announced a relaxation of its policies in relation to the following:

• Generic name applications - the previous policy prohibited the registration of names which could be classified as generic (eg, www.wine.ie). Now, the registration of generic names is permitted, subject to a discretionary safeguard against cybersquatting/warehousing.
  
  
• Territorial scope - applicants for '.ie' domains may now qualify on the basis of a real and substantive connection with Ireland, north and south (as opposed to the Republic of Ireland). This allows businesses and individuals to determine whether a '.ie' domain would be useful or beneficial for them.
  
  
• Trademark applications - IEDR has clarified the situation for applications based on registered marks by including community trademarks, allowing applications regardless of whether a company is trading in Ireland, and allowing applications on the basis of pending trademark applications.
  
  
• Real and substantive connection - IEDR requires the existence of a real and substantive connection with Ireland before it will allow registration of '.ie' domains. However, policy has changed by stating that in situations where a business trades actively with Ireland but has no other formal ties with the country (eg, a subsidiary or branch), registration is permitted, subject to provision of supporting documentation.
  
  
• Personal trading name - individuals trading on their own account under their own name may now apply for registration, subject to the provision of supporting documentation designed to ensure that all applications are made in good faith.

David Sanfey, A&L Goodbody, Dublin