We are often called by parties who object to the content of a web site, and believe that the correct course of action is for us to suspend the domain name. This is not something we do simply on a third party request, and when we ask further, there is often a misunderstanding behind the request. This page explains how to deal with this situation.


Step 1 - Finding the name of the registrant.

The first step is to be clear about who you are in dispute with. Use the WHOIS to get the registrant's name and address (this WHIOS is only for .uk domains - if you are interested in another ending, look at the Internic WHOIS, and then at the WHOIS of the registrar that Internic indicates.)

That way you can contact them and deal with them directly. If no address is given, you may still be able to get it, see step 4 below.

If you think that their details are false or simply not given, see step 4.

Step 2 - How to find out who the Registrar is.

When you do a WHOIS search on the domain name, it will tell you who the "Registrant's Agent". This will give you a name, a web site (usually) and the 'TAG'. Often you can find out more from the web site given, but if not, look at our list of members (if you do not know who owns the tag, look at the list of registrars first) or contact us.

Often the registrar will be hosting the web site (you can get a good idea by looking at the "Nameservers" entry on the WHOIS result). Even if they are not, they will have a contract with the registrant and control over the domain name.

Step 3 - Who to complain to about the content of a web site or the use that a domain name is being put

It is the person hosting the web site who may be able to take it down. If you contact the registrant's agent, they will often be able to tell you who this is. Web site hosts have various protections given to them, but these are reduced once they become aware of a particular problem.

Most of the time this is the correct solution - most people object to the content not the domain name itself. However, if you believe that you have rights in a name or mark which is identical or similar to the domain name, and the domain name itself takes unfair advantage of those rights, you should read up on the Dispute Resolution Service.

Step 4 - What to do if you think that the registrant has concealed their identity

If you think that the registrant name in the WHOIS is not sufficiently detailed (e.g. Registered for: John), or is wrong (either by mistake or deliberately) then you can contact us and ask us to ask them to correct it.

If the address is withheld because the WHOIS says:

The registrant is a non-trading individual who has opted to have their
         address omitted from the WHOIS service.

then you should consider whether they meet the requirement for this opt-out. If they do not, you should contact us as we can remove it. If they do, and you have a specific reason for requesting it, we may still be able to provide it. See our data protection and privacy rules.