ICANN Policies and Domain Name Registrations

The Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA) is a contract between ICANN and domain registrars. It outlines the responsibilities of registrars in managing domain registrations, including verifying and maintaining accurate WHOIS information, handling domain disputes, and ensuring compliance with ICANN’s rules.

Registrars must adhere to the ICANN registration agreements to ensure they provide fair and transparent services to domain registrants. Some of these registrant-focused responsibilities include safeguarding registrant personal information, conducting domain transfers to other registrars/registrants, and managing domain name renewals.

When you register your domain name on Trustname, as an ICANN-accredited registrar, we must adhere to the ICANN RAA guidelines, ensuring your registration details are accurate and updated as needed.

If you opt for Trustname’s Two-Tier domain privacy, you won’t need to verify your domain’s contact details, as the proxy details we’ll use are verified and accurate.

When registering a new domain name, ICANN requires that the domain registrant provide accurate contact information and keep it up to date. This policy is part of the WHOIS Accuracy Program, which is designed to ensure that domain data available through WHOIS queries is accurate.

By ensuring accurate and up-to-date domain contact information, ICANN ensures that the registrant can’t be reached concerning any issues with the domain. Registrants must verify their contact information when registering a domain name and whenever changes are made to the domain’s information. 

Failing to verify the domain’s contact information within the allotted timeframe (typically 15 days) can result in the suspension or cancellation of the domain.

If your WHOIS contact information changes (e.g., you move to a new address or change your email address), you must update this information in your Trustname customer account to comply with ICANN’s requirements and avoid potential issues with your domain.

ICANN’s Transfer Policy governs the process and requirements that must be met when transferring domain names from one registrar to another. This policy includes authorization requirements, transfer timelines, and protection features for domain owners.

To transfer a domain, the current registrar must provide an authorization code (EPP code), and the domain owner must approve the transfer request. Transfers typically take a few days to complete. 

The ICANN also enforces a 60-day domain transfer lock that prevents you from transferring a domain name to a different registrar within 60 days of making changes to the registrant name, organization, or email address (or the Administrative Contact email address).

If you wish to transfer your domain from Trustname to another registrar, you will need to obtain an EPP code from Trustname and ensure that the domain is valid (i.e., it has not undergone any changes within the last 60 days). You’ll also need to turn off Domain Lock and WHOIS privacy.

However, you can transfer your domain name to a new owner who also has a Trustname account as many times as you want if you are both using our Two-Tier Domain Privacy.

The UDRP offers a streamlined process for resolving disputes over domain names, particularly in cases involving trademark infringement or disputes over domain ownership. It is designed to provide a cost-effective alternative to litigation.

Disputants can file a complaint with an approved UDRP provider, who will review the case and determine the appropriate course of action. The decisions from a UDRP provider can be to dismiss the disputant’s claims, transfer the domain, or take down the domain.

Suppose someone registers a domain that closely resembles yours and you believe it infringes on your trademark. In that case, you can initiate a UDRP to file a dispute and reclaim the domain.

ICANN’s expiry policies outline the lifecycle of domain names, including expiration, grace periods, redemption periods, and pending deletions. When a domain expires, a grace period is available during which the domain can still be renewed at the standard price. 

After this period, the domain enters a redemption period during which its data is deleted, and it is then placed on the market for anyone to register on a first-come, first-served basis.

Registrars must follow specific timelines for grace and redemption periods to allow registrants the opportunity to renew their domains before they are deleted. This ensures that registrants have enough time to reclaim expired domains.

If your domain expires, Trustname provides a 30-day grace period during which you can renew it without incurring additional fees. If you miss the grace period, the domain enters the redemption period, where you’d need to pay a higher cost to restore it and contact our support.

During the redemption period, your domain name may be put up for auction. If it isn’t, it then proceeds to the pending delete phase, where all the domain’s information is deleted, effectively making the domain available for registration by anyone.

Many ccTLDs have specific eligibility criteria based on geographic location, residency, or business presence within the country.

Registrants must meet specific requirements to register or renew a country-code top-level domain (ccTLD) domain, which vary depending on the particular region and the registry managing the ccTLD. These rules ensure that domain registrations align with local regulations and interests.

For the .uk ccTLD, registrants must have a physical presence in the United Kingdom. If you want to register a .uk domain on Trustname, you need to provide verification documents for your UK-based business or residence.

Each ccTLD registry (the company responsible for maintaining the records for a particular TLD) has different rules for domain registration, renewal, and transfer. These rules can vary widely and are typically deeply influenced by the local laws of the region associated with the ccTLD.

Domain registrars must comply with these established rules when processing domain registrations and transfers with the ccTLD. These rules will also include specific procedures for handling domain disputes and compliance with local laws.

For example, the .de ccTLD (Germany) has specific registration rules, such as requiring a local administrative contact within Germany for domain registration. To register a .de domain on Trustname, you only need the contact details of someone in Germany to be listed as the domain’s Admin, and you may not need to be in Germany yourself.

Some ccTLDs have their unique dispute resolution policies similar to ICANN’s UDRP. These policies address conflicts over domain name ownership or misuse.

Disputants can file complaints to the ccTLD registry or an approved dispute resolution provider to resolve issues related to domain names. Unlike ICANN’s generic UDRP, which outlines UDRP providers, the ccTLD registries are responsible for specifying verified dispute resolution providers.

For the .au ccTLD (Australia), disputes are resolved through the .au Dispute Resolution Policy (auDRP), which provides a process for addressing domain name disputes in the Australia region.

ccTLD registries are responsible for enforcing the registration policies particular to a ccTLD and ensuring that these policies comply with national laws and regulations.

Registries monitor domain registrations and maintain records of all domain registrations for their country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs) sent from registrars. They also handle cases of non-compliance, including disputes and violations of the ccTLD registration rules.

If a domain registered under the .cn ccTLD (China) is found to violate local laws or regulations, the .cn registry will take appropriate actions and may suspend or cancel the domain registration.