Major Change to dot ie Domain Name Registration

The rules for registering dot ie domain names are changing.

As of March 21st, the ‘claim to name’ requirement will be removed from the registration process, meaning applicants will no longer have to explain why they want a particular domain name.

The liberalisation of the policy was passed by the IEDR following a public consultation on the subject between August and September of 2017.

The process for registering a dot ie domain will now be faster and easier. Yet while applicants no longer have to prove ‘claim to the name’, they must still show a connection to the island of Ireland and proof of identity.

How does the change affect me?

If your website is not registered with a dot ie domain name, any competitor (or otherwise) with a connection to Ireland can claim it once the change comes into effect. This could potentially cause confusion for your visitors and dilute your online brand reputation.