Registered domain names
14/06/2006

A domain name is a user friendly substitute for an Internet address. A true Internet address is a number like an international telephone number. The numbered address is paired with a domain name to make it easier to remember.

An example of a domain name is adamsadams.co.za.

The domain name must have at least two parts, namely a top level domain name (TLD) and a second level domain name. The levels of the domain names are counted from right to left. The top level domain would be the co.za part of a domain name in the above example. There are two types of top level domains:

• national top level domains (nTLDs), and
• international top level or generic top level domains (gTLDs).

National top level domains consist of a two letter country code, for example, za for South Africa. Over 180 two letter country code top level domains currently exist.

The policies for registering a domain name differ from country to country. In South Africa, it is not necessary for the registrant to be located in the country.

General top level domains do not relate to a particular country, but to one of a number of generic categories, including the well-known .com, .org and .net.

.com stands for commercial organisations, .org for miscellaneous, usually non-profit organisations, and .net for network infrastructure machines and organisations. Anyone from any country in the world may register in these top level domains.

The second level domain of a domain name consists usually of the trade mark or trade name or both of the registrant. Most businesses try to obtain domain names that are the same as, or incorporate, their trade marks or trade names, for example, adamsadams.co.za. It is usually this part of the domain name which gives rise to potential trade mark disputes.

In South Africa, a number of secondary domains are available in the top level domain space .za. These include .co.za, which corresponds closely to the .com domain on the Internet. It is the domain most likely to be used by commercial enterprises in South Africa. Others include .ac.za for research and academic institutions, .edu.za for distance learning organisations and .gov.za for government departments. In South Africa, Uniforum SA is responsible for the administration and registration of the .co.za domain names. Adams & Adams provides a service registering domain names in this space, as well as registering domain names internationally.
Electronic Communications Act ICANN UDRP