The IE Domain Registry (IEDR), the managed registry for Ireland’s dot.ie domain names, has announced the relaxation of the rules for registering personal dot.ie domain names for individuals.
Registration of personal domains will be available to individuals from Wednesday, 31st October, 2007. This follows a seven week notice period, to allow time for sole traders, professionals, politicians, trademark holders who have not already registered their .ie Internet address, to do so under existing non-personal domain categories.
The introduction of personal dot.ie domain names is a result of the increased popularity of social networking and blogging sites and the increasing number of individuals who are coming online.
The registration of personal domain names will be open to all individuals who can authenticate a claim to the domain name and who have a real and substantive connection to the island of Ireland.
To authenticate a claim, a copy of an identification document is required, for example an Irish utility bill or driving licence. The name on the document supplied must match exactly the domain name applied for. This requirement ensures that
the status of Ireland’s dot.ie namespace, as the world’s second safest country code top level domain, is maintained and protected in the future. Applications will be time-stamped to ensure fairness and transparency of the process.
Commenting on the introduction of dot.ie personal domain names, Mr. David Curtin, Chief Executive of the IE Domain Registry said,
"The IEDR is pleased to announce the relaxation of rules for personal dot.ie domain names. To maintain the integrity of the dot.ie domain namespace, which has negligible levels of cyber squatting and cyber crime, applicants will need to authenticate their claim by providing matching supporting documentation such as an Irish passport or utility bill.
The broadband take-up and popularity of social networking has created a desire for a personal presence on the Internet, which in turn will have a positive effect on the level of demand for personal dot.ie domain names. The IEDR has also significantly reduced its prices, which have fallen by 50% since 2003 and introduced key system changes that facilitate fast, automated and real time registration, which has
reduced resellers’process costs.”
If you wish to register your own personal domain name contact Kildare Web Services as soon as possible to have your application ready before the official start date.