Sunrise period for ‘.cr’ second-level domain names launched

NIC Costa Rica, the registry responsible for the regulation of the '.cr' country-code top-level domain (ccTLD), has announced that it now allows the registration of second-level domain names.

Until now, it was not possible to register domain names at the second level. The registry has launched a 90-day sunrise period which is open only to the registrants of domain names in any of the existing extensions - namely '.ac.cr', '.co.cr', '.ed.cr', '.fi.cr', '.go.cr', '.or.cr' and '.sa.cr'. During this period, registrants of existing domain names are allowed to apply for the equivalent domain names under '.cr'. The registry will process the applications on a first-come, first-served basis.

After the sunrise period, second-level domain names will be available to any interested party.

Nearly 7,500 domain names have been registered under the '.cr' ccTLD, 6,200 of which are in '.co.cr', which is the only third level not to require a local presence in Costa Rica.

David Taylor, Lovells LLP, Paris