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Terms and Conditions of the
Nominet Registry
WARNING: by registering a
domain name within the .uk Top Level Domain (a "Domain Name"), you
enter into a contract of registration with Nominet UK ("We",
"Our" or "Us") on the following terms and conditions.
This is a separate contract to any arrangement you may have with any third
party for the provision of internet services.
Nominet is the Registry for
all internet Domain Names ending in .uk and provides a public service for
the .uk namespace on behalf of the Internet community. You can find out more
information about Nominet from our web site at http://www.nominet.org.uk.
Nominet is a not - for - profit company limited by guarantee which is
performing services on a cost recovery basis. This is why we consider it
reasonable to limit our liability in certain respects so that we may
continue to offer our services in the interests of the whole internet
community.
This Contract includes our
current Rules For The .uk Domain And Sub-Domains ("Rules") and the
Policy and Procedure for our Domain Name Dispute Resolution Service
("Policy" and "Procedure" as appropriate). Copies of the
Policy, Procedure and Rules are at http://www.nominet.org.uk/ref/drs-policy.html
or can be obtained from us.
You may have registered a
Domain Name through a third party (usually, but not always, your internet
service provider). In these terms and conditions, the term "Agent"
means such a third party.
- What we will do
| 1.1. |
We will process your application to register a Domain Name and
consider whether or not to accept it in accordance with the
criteria laid down in the Rules; |
| 1.2. |
If your application is accepted, we will inform you or your
Agent. If your application is rejected, we will inform you or
your Agent as soon as reasonably practicable and return to you
or your Agent (as appropriate) any payments received; |
| 1.3. |
Unless the current Rules of the relevant sub-domain state to
the contrary, we will register Domain Names on a first come,
first served basis. Until we accept your application, there is
no guarantee that the Domain Name you applied for will be
entered in the Register as such. We therefore recommend that you
do not take any action in respect of a Domain Name until you
have received confirmation from us that your application has
been accepted. |
| 1.4. |
After your application has been accepted, we will enter the
Domain Name and other relevant details (namely the data
described in clause 6 below, together with details of your
Agent, if any) in the Domain Name register database for the
requested second level of the .uk top level domain (the
"Register"). |
| 1.5. |
We will use the information in the Register entry for the
Domain Name to enable the resolution of requests for the Domain
Name, by pointing to the authoritative name servers listed in
the Register Entry for the Domain Name. For further information
about the technical requirements for registering a Domain Name,
please contact your Agent. |
| 1.6. |
After your application has been accepted and we have received
your registration fee, we will issue you with a registration
certificate and a reply form. |
| 1.7. |
Subject to clause 8 below, we will transfer your Domain Name
and update the Register accordingly on receipt of correctly
completed transfer documentation from you and any relevant
transfer fee applicable at the time of transfer. We will not
transfer a Domain Name whilst it is the subject of legal
proceedings or proceedings under our Dispute Resolution Service. |
| 1.8. |
Please note that subject to clauses 8.5 and 8.6 we will not
refund any fees after your Domain Name and details have been
entered in the Register. |
| 1.9. |
Subject to clauses 8.7 and 8.8 below, we will only make
changes to the details contained on the Register (other than the
registrant field), if we receive instructions and approval from
you or your Agent. |
| 1.10. |
Subject to clauses 8.7 and 8.8, we shall only alter the
details contained in the "registrant" field of the
Register if we receive authorisation directly from you. |
- What you must do
| 2.1. |
You must ensure that we receive the registration or renewal
fee within one month after the issue of our invoice. For the
avoidance of doubt, if you use an Agent it will be your
responsibility to ensure that the Agent has paid the
registration or renewal fee to us within one month of the issue
of our invoice. |
| 2.2. |
You must sign and return to us the reply form which we will
send to you after registration or renewal as appropriate. |
| 2.3. |
You must inform us promptly of any change in your registered
details, and those of your Agent if applicable. It will be your
responsibility to maintain and update any details you submit to
us and to ensure that your details are up to date, and accurate.
In particular, it is your responsibility directly or by your
Agent to ensure that we have your full and correct postal
address. |
| 2.4. |
You must promptly inform us of any court proceedings brought
in respect of the Domain Name. |
| 2.5. |
Any name server listed in the Register entry for the Domain
Name must respond authoritatively to requests for the Domain
Name at all reasonable times. |
- Renewal of your Domain Name Registration
| 3.1. |
The registration period is two years from the date of entry
into the Register of your Domain Name registration. Provided you
pay us your renewal fee and subject to clause 8 below, you will
have the right to renew the Domain Name registration by entering
into a new Contract with us for further periods of two years. |
| 3.2. |
Subject to clause 3.3 below, when the Domain Name registration
falls due for renewal, we will contact your Agent (at the
Agent's address appearing in the Register) to request payment of
the relevant renewal fee. |
| 3.3. |
If no Agent is listed on the Register entry for the Domain
Name, or if the Register entry for the Domain Name indicates
that you wish to be invoiced direct, we will request payment of
the relevant renewal fee direct from you at the registrant
address appearing in the Register. |
| 3.4. |
If we fail to receive the renewal fee within thirty (30) days
of our making a request for the renewal fee, we will suspend
your registration for at least 6 weeks and if we do not receive
payment within the suspension period we will cancel your
registration without further notice to you. During any period of
suspension, we will not point to any name servers listed in the
Register entry for the Domain Name, and you will be unable to
use or transfer the Domain Name. |
- Exclusions and Limitations of Liability
| 4.1. |
Nominet does not carry out any investigation as to whether you
are entitled to register or have any rights in the Domain Name.
By registering the Domain Name we are not acknowledging that you
have any rights in the name comprised in the Domain Name, and we
are not authorising you to use the Domain Name in the course of
trade. |
| 4.2. |
Nothing in these terms and conditions limits or excludes our
liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence
or for fraudulent misrepresentation. |
| 4.3. |
We shall not be liable to you whether in contract, tort
(including negligence) or otherwise for: |
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| 4.3.1. |
any loss of profit, revenue or other type of economic
loss (whether direct or indirect); |
| 4.3.2. |
loss of business or contracts; |
| 4.3.3. |
loss of anticipated savings or goodwill; or |
| 4.3.4. |
any losses which a court holds to be consequential, or
indirect losses; arising out of or in connection with
the Contract, including but not limited to: |
| 4.3.5. |
any error or omission in entries to the Register; and |
| 4.3.6. |
loss of registration and/or use (for whatever reason
and whether temporary or otherwise) of the Domain Name. |
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| 4.4. |
All conditions and warranties which may be implied by law into
any Contract with you are excluded to the fullest extent
permissible by law. |
| 4.5. |
Our aggregate liability to you whether under these terms and
conditions or otherwise (including liability for negligence)
shall not exceed £5,000. |
| 4.6. |
If you are a consumer (ie you are not registering or intending
to use the Domain Name in the course of a business, trade or
profession) (a "Consumer"), the provisions of clauses
4.3 4.4 and 4.5 above will not apply to you. |
| 4.7. |
Nothing in these terms and conditions will reduce your
statutory rights relating to faulty or misdescribed goods. For
further information about your statutory rights contact your
local authority Trading Standards Department or Citizens Advice
Bureau. |
- Warranties
By entering into this agreement you consent to and warrant the
following:
| 5.1 |
That you (or your Agent) have obtained the consent of any
individual whose personal data is to be held on the Register in
accordance with clause 6; |
| 5.2 |
That the details and information submitted by you to us are
true and correct, and that any future additions or alterations
to your details and information will be true and correct, and
that you will submit them in a timely manner. Unless you are a
Consumer, you shall pay us (including the current or past
members of Nominet UK's Council of Management) any and all
reasonable costs, claims and expenses (whether direct or
indirect) arising out of any claim resulting from your breach of
this warranty; and |
| 5.3 |
That by registering or using the Domain Name (in whatever
manner) you will not knowingly infringe the intellectual
property rights of a third party, that you are entitled to
register the Domain Name, and that you have not registered the
Domain Name in breach of trust. Our right to rely upon this
warranty will continue to be available after completion of the
registration process and will not be affected by any surrender,
cancellation or transfer of the Domain Name. Unless you are a
Consumer, you shall pay us (including the current or past
members of Nominet UK's Council of Management) any and all
reasonable costs, claims and expenses (whether direct or
indirect) arising out of any claim that your registration or use
of the Domain Name directly or indirectly infringes the
intellectual property rights of a third party. |
- Personal Data
| 6.1 |
The Register is a public register for the purposes of data
protection legislation. The Register will include your name and
postal address, telephone and fax number and email address
together with any other relevant details. This information (if
it refers to individuals) is 'personal data' for the purposes of
data protection legislation.
Personal data submitted by you will be:
- Posted onto the Register;
- Posted onto the WHOIS database by us. The WHOIS database
is provided on our web site at http://www.nominet.org.uk.
Other Agents which provide an online Domain Name
registration service may point to our WHOIS database. We
will publish your name and address but will not publish your
telephone or fax number or email address as part of the
WHOIS database; and
- Used as part of the Public Register Subscription Service
("PRSS"), under which we provide a compressed form
of the Register to subscribers. We provide the PRSS only to
trusted third parties, based within the European Economic
Area, under strict contractual terms which prohibit the use
of PRSS data for the purposes of direct marketing. The PRSS
enables subscribers to perform WHOIS queries and reverse
look-ups. We will publish your name and address but not your
telephone or fax number or email address as part of the PRSS;
- We may provide your personal data to governmental or law
enforcement agencies at their written request in connection
with the conducting of any investigation of criminal
activities; and
- We will provide your personal data to third parties only
if required to do so by a court order.
You may write to us to request a copy of the personal data
held by us about you. We may charge a reasonable fee for the
provision of such data. As required by the Data Protection Act
1998, we will adopt appropriate security procedures in relation
to the storage and disclosure of information provided by you in
order to prevent unauthorised access. Our security procedures
mean that we may occasionally request proof of your identity
before we are able to disclose personal information to you.
Other than the uses identified above, we will not disclose your
personal information to others.
You should be aware that personal data posted on the WHOIS
database may be accessible to countries outside the European
Economic Area. By registering a Domain Name you consent to your
personal data being transferred out of the European Economic
Area and to our use of your personal data for the purposes
specified above.
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- Domain Name Dispute Resolution Service
| 7.1. |
You will be bound by the Policy and Procedure of our Dispute
Resolution Service which are incorporated into these terms and
conditions and made a part of the Contract by reference. The
current version of the Policy and Procedure can be found at our
web site: http://www.nominet.org.uk/drs.html |
| 7.2. |
If a dispute arises, you agree to be bound by the Policy and
Procedure which are current at the time that proceedings under
the Dispute Resolution Service are commenced until the dispute
is over. |
| 7.3. |
Neither we nor our directors, officers, employees or servants
nor any expert shall be liable to a party for anything done or
omitted in connection with any proceedings under the Dispute
Resolution Service unless the act or omission is shown to have
been in bad faith. |
- Termination/Cancellation, Suspension and Amendment of the Register
| 8.1. |
You or your Agent may surrender registration of the Domain
Name by notice in writing to us at any time prior to our
receiving payment. |
| 8.2. |
After we have received payment for a Domain Name, only you
(and not your Agent) may surrender the Domain Name. |
| 8.3. |
After payment has been received but prior to the issue of a
registration certificate you may surrender the registration by
writing to us on headed notepaper which corresponds to the
registrant address field of the Register entry for the Domain
Name. |
| 8.4. |
If a registration certificate has been issued, you may
surrender the Domain Name by correctly completing the surrender
of registration form (on the reverse of the registration
certificate). |
| 8.5. |
If you are a Consumer, then you may cancel the Contract by
giving notice to us by any of the means set out in clause 10.4
below at any time up to and including 7 working days following
the day on which the Contract is concluded, i.e. the date on
which we give notice to you or your Agent that we have accepted
your application to register a Domain Name. If you register or
use the Domain Name in the course of a business, trade or
profession, you will not have this right to cancel the Contract. |
| 8.6. |
If you cancel the Contract in accordance with clause 8.5 then
we will provide you or your Agent (as appropriate) with a full
refund of our registration fee within 30 days from the day on
which we receive notice of your cancellation. If we refund your
Agent, you may have to seek direct from your Agent any further
component of the fees which you have paid. |
| 8.7. |
We may cancel or suspend the registration of a Domain Name by
providing you with notice in writing in the event of the
following: |
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| 8.7.1. |
if we do not receive your registration or renewal fees
in accordance with clause 2.1 above; |
| 8.7.2. |
if you are in breach of the terms of this Contract
(including the Rules) and in the case of a breach which
is capable of remedy you fail to remedy this within 30
days of receiving written notice from us to do so; |
| 8.7.3. |
if we receive independent verification that you have
provided grossly inaccurate, unreliable or false
registrant contact details, or failed to keep such
contact details up to date; |
| 8.7.4. |
if you are in breach of the warranties contained in
clauses 5.1 and 5.3 of the Contract; or |
| 8.7.5. |
if the Domain Name is being administered in a way
likely to endanger the operation of the Domain Name
System. |
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| 8.8. |
We may transfer, suspend, cancel or amend the Domain Name
registration in the following circumstances: |
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| 8.8.1. |
upon receiving written instructions from you to take
such action together with any relevant fee; |
| 8.8.2. |
upon receiving a copy of a perfected order of a court
of competent jurisdiction requiring such action, or
where the retention of a Domain Name by you would be
inconsistent with the terms of a perfected court order
received by us or any other legal requirements; |
| 8.8.3. |
if such changes are necessary in order to correct an
error relating to the Domain Name registration; or |
| 8.8.4. |
following a Decision requiring such action or an
agreement reached between the parties and approved by us
relating to proceedings under the Dispute Resolution
Service. |
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| 8.9. |
If a name server listed for the Domain Name registration does
not respond authoritatively to requests for the Domain Name, we
may remove the name server from the Register entry for the
Domain Name. |
- Change of Agent
| 9.1. |
If you wish to change your Agent, you should first approach
your current Agent to arrange this. If your approach is
unsuccessful, we may at your request record a change of Agent
directly onto the Register entry for your Domain Name
registration. On receipt of your request, we will approach your
Agent (unless exceptional circumstances apply). We will only
comply with your request if: |
| 9.2. |
we are satisfied that you have first approached your Agent,
and that the approach has been unsuccessful; and |
| 9.3. |
we are not informed by your Agent that there is an express
term in your contract with your Agent which can prevent us from
recording such a change. |
- General
| 10.1. |
If any clause of these terms and conditions is held to be
unenforceable in whole or in part the other terms and the rest
of the provisions shall continue to be valid and enforceable. |
| 10.2. |
We may transfer our rights and obligations under the Contract
to any third party. You may transfer the Contract, only on the
transfer of the Domain Name, in accordance with clauses 1.7 and
subject to clause 8 above. |
| 10.3. |
The internet is an emerging and evolving medium and the
regulatory and administrative framework under which we operate
is constantly developing. For these reasons we reserve the right
to make reasonable modifications to the terms and conditions of
this Contract (including the Policy, Procedure and Rules) at any
time during the term. We will only do so when we have good
reason. No change will have the effect of requiring an increase
in fees from you in advance of the next renewal of the Domain
Name. Except where we are acting in pursuance of a statutory
requirement or a court order, changes will be implemented across
the board in all of our Domain Name contracts following a
process of open public consultation. Each such change will be
published in advance (where practicable, 30 days in advance) on
our web site: http://www.nominet.org.uk/
and will become binding and effective upon the date specified
therein. You should review our web site regularly in order to be
aware of all such changes. If you do not agree with any change
or proposed change to these terms and conditions you are
entitled to terminate the Contract by providing us with thirty
(30) days notice in writing, in which case you will receive a
pro-rata refund of your registration fee in respect of any
unexpired portion of the term. |
| 10.4. |
If you wish to contact us our postal address is Nominet UK,
Sandford Gate, Sandy Lane West, Oxford, OX4 6LB, England and our
telephone number is +44(0) 1865 332211. Our offices are open
from 9.00a.m. to 5.30pm (UK local time) Monday to Friday, except
for public holidays. Except as set out in the Policy and
Procedure any notice to be given under the Contract shall only
be deemed to be served if delivered by hand or sent by pre-paid
post, by fax or e-mail, to the party to whom it is given at its
last known postal or e-mail address or fax number. Except as
otherwise set out in the Policy and Procedure the notice will be
effective: if delivered, on delivery; if sent by fax or email,
on the date of sending; and if by post, on the date of posting.
For the avoidance of doubt, any notice sent to you will be
deemed served if sent to the address appearing in your
Registrant's address field. |
| 10.5. |
This contract is a binding document. Consumers should read it
carefully and ensure that it contains everything you want and
nothing you are not prepared to agree to. These terms and
conditions, together with the Rules Policy and Procedure,
constitute the entire agreement between you and us for the
registration of the Domain Name, and supersedes all prior
agreements, understandings and representations whether oral or
written. |
| 10.6. |
These terms and conditions shall be governed by the relevant
United Kingdom law, and by agreeing to be bound by them you
agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the relevant
courts of the United Kingdom. |
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