Launch of domain names in Somalia (.so)
7/10/2010

The country code for the Top Level Domain (ccTLD) assigned to The Republic of Somalia, is the domain extension .so. This will be re-launched as an unrestricted ccTLD.

According to current draft policies, the following extensions will be available for registration:
.so – general purposes
.com.so – commercial entities
.net.so – network use
.org.so – not for profit organisations

The proposed launch schedule is as follows:

1. Sunrise period (1 November – 30 November 2010:. Owners, licensees or assignees of Eligible Trademarks will have the opportunity to submit a corresponding application for the registration of a domain name in the .so TLD. If more than one applicant has submitted an application during this phase for an identical domain name, it will be registered following the outcome of an auction process.

An Eligible Trademark is a registered trade mark that:
• has been issued by an competent public authority and has national effect; and
• was registered on or before 1 January 2010; and
• is in full force and effect when the application is validated by the clearinghouse appointed by the .so registry.

An applicant cannot rely on a trademark application, common law trade or US state trademark.

2. Sunrise Auction (1 December – 15 December 2010): Auction for domain names with more than one credible application.

3. Landrush (16 December 2010 - 9 February 2011): Domain names not previously registered or applied for during the Sunrise process may be registered by any interested party. If more than two applicants have submitted an application during this phase for an identical domain name, it will be placed on auction.

4. Landrush Auction (10 February – 28 February 2011): Auction for domain names with more than one credible application.

5. General Availability (1 March 2011): Domain names will be registered on a “first come, first served” basis.

At each stage, where there are two or more qualifying applicants for a domain name, an open auction process will be used to decide the successful applicant, with any profits going to the Nominet Trust. Once the auction has been completed, the successful applicant will be entitled to register the domain name.

For further information, please contact our Domains Department.
Steven Yeates
Partner
steven-y@adamsadams.co.za