What is this about?
Clause 3 of the Good Practice Terms for the Registrar Agreement outlines that it is important for registrants to understand that registering a .uk domain name involves making a contract with Nominet. Therefore you are required to make registrants aware of the current version of our Terms of Domain Name Registration before the contract is made and at renewal.
Our member and registrar support team is actively helping registrars to bring our Terms and Conditions (T&Cs) to the attention of their customers before a domain name application is made. All registrars will be contacted as part of this process.
Why are you focusing on this clause?
Displaying our Terms and Conditions is a relatively straightforward aspect of the Registrar Agreement and Good Practice Terms to put into place, and the benefits of doing so are potentially huge. If left incomplete, this aspect of the registration process generates a number of registrant queries and complaints to both Nominet and other bodies, such as Trading Standards.
Why do I need to display your Terms and Conditions?
You need to display our Terms and Conditions in order to protect yourselves against any liabilities that may arise through non-disclosure. Clause 3 of the Good Practice Terms outlines specifically the registrar’s obligations in this regard .
It is also important to do this to safeguard your business against consumer-protection legislation. Domain name applicants have a right to be made aware of the terms of the contract that they are entering into, and the various requirements placed upon them prior to registering a domain name. For example, the registrant must be made aware that they should ensure that the domain name registration and renewal fees are paid, and that up to date contact details are maintained for them.
The Terms and Conditions also stipulate the use to which the registration details will be put. In particular, this information (if it refers to individuals) is 'personal data' and should be used by both Nominet and registrars in accordance with requirements of the Data Protection Act.
Can I use a logo to link to your Terms and Conditions?Yes, we have a special Terms and Conditions logo that you can use to link to our Terms and Conditions. However, you do need to meet certain criteria before we can agree to you using this logo.
I am already displaying your Terms and Conditions, is there anything else I need to do?
We realise that a large proportion of registrars are already complying with this obligation, and if you are one of these we would like to hear from you. We welcome examples of good practice and invite you to email us with details of where our Terms and Conditions can be found on your web site, and how these are drawn to attention of your customers. Examples should be emailed to support@nominet.org.uk.
What if I don't want my web site linked to your pages?
To help you to create a link from your web site to our Terms and Conditions, a stand-alone web page has been created, which does not link back to the main Nominet site. All you need to do is to link this to your web site at a place that can be viewed by applicants prior to the registration and renewal of a domain name.
Where do I go to for further information?
All enquiries should be emailed in the first instance to support@nominet.org.uk.