Can anyone register co.uk domains

"The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers

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BingeSite

13 years ago

Originally Posted by CDarklock

I'd really like to see some authoritative reference confirming that.

not required ^^ GoDaddy.com is the reference. I can confirm it as I recently registered grepler.co.uk, however for e.g. .fr which can be regsitered via godaddy requires a trustee which costs 29$ available at godaddy

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CDarklock

13 years ago

Originally Posted by BingeSite

GoDaddy.com is the reference.

Here's my problem with the anecdotal "I did it and they didn't stop me" stuff.

I have known several people (admittedly many years ago) who have registered domains and had them summarily cancelled and seized because they were in violation of policies.

Sometimes these people would own their domains for years, and then in the course of a periodic audit the registrar would discover that they were ineligible to own the domain in the first place.

Boom, the domain goes away. (And GoDaddy in particular is notorious for seizing domains on the thinnest of excuses.)

So while I would really love to have a .co.uk domain and expand my business operations in a UK-specific direction targeted at the cultural values and specific needs of UK residents - who honestly do prefer to buy from .co.uk vendors - I have some vague recollection that any registrant of a .co.uk domain is required to have physical presence or residency in the UK.

A quick search turns up this tidbit at NTC hosting:

"In order to register a .CO.UK domain name you must be a UK citizen or resident, or you need to register the domain for a UK registered company or organization."

However, a check of the popular net2.co.uk registrar and nominet.org.uk turns up nothing at all. There is no mention of a requirement, but there is also no mention of there not being any requirements. There isn't even a FAQ on who can register a .co.uk domain.

I just want someone with real, verifiable authority on the subject to make an official statement to the effect that yes, it's okay for me to register a .co.uk domain and host it on my server in Texas while I live in Washington and haven't even set foot in the UK for thirty years.

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Alexa Smith

Banned 13 years ago

Originally Posted by CDarklock

I just want someone with real, verifiable authority on the subject to make an official statement to the effect that yes, it's okay for me to register a .co.uk domain and host it on my server in Texas while I live in Washington

Yes, I don't blame you.

I know I have read something about this, but can't remember where now, which isn't much use to you, I'm afraid, not least because I can't remember whether it was "official" or just a representation made by a registrar.

Originally Posted by CDarklock

and haven't even set foot in the UK for thirty years.

Don't leave it so long, next time. We don't bite (much).

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Frank Donovan 13 years ago

Caliban,

It's strange that there seems to be so little official information about this.

I've just checked through the registration details that Nominet send to all purchasers of .co.uk domains. Nothing in the T&C, but on the form new registrants need to complete, there's a box asking for details of non-UK registered companies (if applicable).

That suggests that a non-UK resident can register the domain, but it's about as explicit as they seem willing to be.

Frank
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CDarklock 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Alexa Smith

Don't leave it so long, next time.

I fear returning to the UK because it was very difficult for me to leave as a child, when I had no choice.

As an adult, with the full right to decide I'm just not leaving at all... well... I may just never leave.

I cure myself of the temptation to move to the UK by going to the HMRE website, looking at your tax system, and saying "oh yeah!"

But if I ever stand in Regent's Park again, I may no longer care what HMRE wants out of my pocket.

It's an odd situation. I can't go back because I love it too much. Maybe one day that will change.
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"The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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Tashi Mortier 13 years ago

Originally Posted by CDarklock

I'd really like to see some authoritative reference confirming that.

You just need to find a host that will perform the registration for you. I could even get a .us domain because the host didn't even tell me that I'd need to be a US citizen or have my business situated there.

But I haven't heard of any such limitations for .co.uk domains. So everyone should be able to register them.
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Adie 13 years ago

Originally Posted by CDarklock

I'd really like to see some authoritative reference confirming that.

With namecheap, you can register:

co.uk
me.uk
org.uk
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sbucciarel Banned 13 years ago

Originally Posted by CDarklock

I'd really like to see some authoritative reference confirming that.

Authoritative Reference: I've registered numerous .co.uk domains
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- Mike McAleer 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by sbucciarel
  
  Authoritative Reference: I've registered numerous .co.uk domains
  
  HaHa sounds good. I don't see why there would be any restrictions as many people want to expand there business elsewhere.
  
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  Alexa Smith Banned 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Mike McAleer
  
  I don't see why there would be any restrictions as many people want to expand there business elsewhere.
  
  Well, there are some, Mike, in spite of your "not being able to see why there would be". :rolleyes:
  
  If you'll excuse the observation, that sort of mistaken guess isn't actually evidential either way, which is why it's very legitimate for people to ask for an authoritative reference.
  
  I can't buy a ".us" domain because I'm not US-resident and have no "business presence" (within the accepted meaning/qualification) inside the US. I've tried and not been allowed to. I'm not eligible to register them.
  
  People are wondering whether the same might apply to .co.uk domains - that's all (in fact, it doesn't, but embarrassingly I can't at the moment produce a source).
  
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  Frank Donovan 13 years ago
  
  One potential restriction to bear in mind is that with .co.uk tlds (which come under the jurisdiction of Nominet) one cannot block the WHOIS information if the site is being used as a business.
  
  That facility is currently only available for personal websites.
  
  Frank
  
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Alexa Smith Banned 13 years ago

Originally Posted by CDarklock

I'd really like to see some authoritative reference confirming that.

I don't know of an authoritative reference, Caliban (and I'm not quite sure what you'd accept as one, anyway), but I know it's true. Unlike some domain extensions, there's no restriction on anyone registering a .co.uk name.
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Jason Perez O'Connor 13 years ago

No idea I do however own a few .us domains lol. Should I be worrying?
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sbucciarel

Banned 13 years ago

This is a definitive as it will get
.co.uk Domain Names - .co.uk Domain Name Registration - Cheap .uk Domains • Namecheap.com

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Alexa Smith Banned 13 years ago

Originally Posted by sbucciarel

This is a definitive as it will get
.co.uk Domain Names - .co.uk Domain Name Registration - Cheap .uk Domains • Namecheap.com

Ooh, well done, never thought of looking there!

Anyone in the world can register a .co.uk domain name
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CDarklock

13 years ago

Originally Posted by sbucciarel

This is a definitive as it will get

4.2 We will accept applications which comply with the Rules and register Domain Names on a first come first served basis. This means that, except where set out in the SLD Rules, we will not vet your application to:

restrict who may apply for and register Domain Names; or
restrict which Domain Names may be held by you; or
restrict the number of Domain Names which may be held by you.

Now, what this means is that you may apply for, register, and hold as many domain names as you want provided you meet the SPECIFIC restrictions to be found in the SLD-specific rules. So on we go to the specific restrictions...

7. Specific Rules for registration in the .co.uk SLD

7.1 Introduction
These are the specific rules for the .co.uk SLD, administered directly by us. They form part of and, in the case of conflict, take precedence over the Rules.
7.2. SLD Charter
Domain Names registered in the .co.uk SLD are intended to be used for commercial purposes, and the Third Level Domains are intended to reflect and be related to these purposes.

This is the entirety of the specific rules.

In other words, a .co.uk domain is simply intended to be used for commercial purposes. And, as marketers, that should not be terribly difficult for us to do.

I've crawled through all four of the legal documents:

Nominet - Terms and Conditions
Nominet - Policy
Nominet - Procedure
Nominet - Rules

...and verified to my satisfaction that the quoted elements of the contract are the only ones materially relevant to the question of who may register a .co.uk domain.

And no, I am not a lawyer, but I am Jewish - which is almost the same thing.

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Jason Perez O'Connor

13 years ago

Originally Posted by CDarklock

Well, not quite, but it led me there.

Short answer: Yes, anyone anywhere can register a .co.uk domain without restriction.

Long answer for the benefit of those like me who want to know and confirm the authoritative answer:

Suzanne's link led to a page which included the text...

"To register a .co.uk domain, you must meet Nominet's requirements. For more information click here."

Link leads to...

Nominet - Terms and Conditions

Here, we find an early mention of...

"This contract includes the DRS policy, the DRS procedure and the rules."

The final word "rules" leads to...

Nominet - Rules

This leads to TWO salient pieces of information.

Now, what this means is that you may apply for, register, and hold as many domain names as you want provided you meet the SPECIFIC restrictions to be found in the SLD-specific rules. So on we go to the specific restrictions...

This is the entirety of the specific rules.

In other words, a .co.uk domain is simply intended to be used for commercial purposes. And, as marketers, that should not be terribly difficult for us to do.

I've crawled through all four of the legal documents:

Nominet - Terms and Conditions
Nominet - Policy
Nominet - Procedure
Nominet - Rules

...and verified to my satisfaction that the quoted elements of the contract are the only ones materially relevant to the question of who may register a .co.uk domain.

And no, I am not a lawyer, but I am Jewish - which is almost the same thing.

The question is, after all this research are you going to register a .co.uk domain?

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CDarklock 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Jason Perez O'Connor

The question is, after all this research are you going to register a .co.uk domain?

Not immediately... but I had several projects postponed until I could open a UK limited company as an international subsidiary, since I expected that to be necessary. Now that it isn't, they'll bubble to the top of the list a lot faster.
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"The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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Mike McAleer

13 years ago

Originally Posted by CDarklock

Haha I get the Jewish joke!

I always knew that there shouldn't have been a problem with .co.uk's but am glad you got some official rules sorted out

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Jason Perez O'Connor

13 years ago

Register a domain with us and get the best value and support that hundreds of thousands of customers have come to rely on!
.US is a country-code TLD (ccTLD) extension. This ccTLD is exclusively for US citizens, businesses, organizations and government agencies.

The following is a list of features which are included FREE with your domain registration.

I guess I should :<

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Can anyone register co.uk domains

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