Launch of short.uk domain names
7/10/2010

The UK domain name registry has announced that it intends to release short domain names (two and three character domain names) before the end of 2010.

Characters corresponding to an existing Second Level Domain in .uk shall not be permitted as a Third Level Domain with the domain name extensions .co.uk, .me.uk, .org.uk and .net.uk. At present this includes ac, co. gov, ltd, me. mil, mod, net, nhs, nic , org, plc, police, com, uk and sch.

There will be a two-stage sunrise and a landrush release process.

1. First sunrise: This will be reserved for holders of registered trademarks enforceable in the UK, exactly corresponding to the third level combination being made available and in force as of 1 January 2008 and who can provide evidence of bona fide use in the UK on or before 1 January 2008, to the satisfaction of an independent assessor.

2. Second sunrise: This is reserved for any person who would have qualified for the first sunrise, but missed the application deadline; and holders of unregistered rights enforceable in the UK exactly corresponding to the third level combination being made available and in force as of 1 January 2008 and who can provide evidence of bona fide use in the UK on or before 1 January 2008, to the satisfaction of an independent assessor.

3. Landrush: Following the two sunrise periods, there will be a period of open application.

4. Auction phase: 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