.dk terms&conditions

Outline of terms and conditions
An outline of the main content of the terms and conditions for allocation, registration and administration of domain names under the .dk domain.

1. The outline does not replace the terms and conditions.
The purpose of this outline is to give the reader a quick overview over the main content of the terms and conditions for allocation, registration and administration of domain names under the .dk domain. The outline does not include a description of the regulations in force, and does not replace the full terms and conditions. It is your responsibility to go through the terms and conditions and find out which regulations are in force when you register a domain name. You are always welcome to contact DK Hostmaster, if you have any questions concerning the terms and conditions.

2. Key persons, institutions and definitions
Here is a short description of some of the key persons and institutions that appear in the terms and conditions.

DIFO (short for Dansk Internet Forum, or Danish Internet Forum) is an association that lays down the overarching goals and regulations that govern the Danish part of the internet. This includes regulations for the administration of domain names, and regulations for disputes about domain names under the .dk domain.

DK Hostmaster is a limited company, owned by DIFO. DIFO has delegated the daily administration of the .dk domain to DK Hostmaster. This is why it is DK Hostmaster that you enter an agreement with when you register a domain name.

A registrant is the physical or legal person, who enters into an agreement on registration of a domain name under the .dk-domain.

A proxy is a physical or legal person, who in the DK Hostmasters system is stated as competent to act on behalf of the registrant towards DK Hostmaster. The proxy can f.ex. request changes in address information or request the transfer of a domain name to a third party. If the registrant does not wish that others should be able to act on the behalf of the registrant, the registrant will be stated as a proxy.

The registrator (registration agent (ISP)) is a physical or legal person that is approved by DK Hostmaster to register domain names under the .dk domain. The registrants application for registration of a domain name takes place through a registrator.

3. Procedure for application and registration.
Applications for a domain name should be given in to DK Hostmaster through a registrator. In connection with an application, the registrant submits information on the DK Hostmaster application form.

The registrant vouches that the registration and/or use of the domain name does not violate other people’s rights. The registrant accepts at the same time that he/she adheres to DK Hostmaster’s general conditions.

DK Hostmaster allocates domain names on a first-come first-served basis. DK Hostmaster will register the applied domain name for the registrant, so long as the domain name is not already registered, or has been applied for, at the time of the registrant’s application.

The registrant should activate the domain name within three months. DK Hostmaster will send an e-mail with a more detailed description of the activation procedure.

The registration is valid for the period of use that has been chosen (one, two, three or five years).

The procedure for application and registration is described in more detail under point 3 of the terms and conditions.

4. Renewal of registration
Prior to expiry of the period of use of the domain name, DK Hostmaster will send out a reminder to renew the registration, and an invoice with renewal fees for a new period of use. If the renewal fee is not paid, the domain name will be deleted. Renewal and registration are described in more detail under point 4 in the terms and conditions.

5. Changing internet service provider
The registrant has the right to get their domain name moved from one internet service provider to another. Notice of a change should be given to DK Hostmaster. More detailed conditions for a change can be seen under point 5.2.

6. Waiting list
DK Hostmaster administers a waiting list for domain names that have already been registered. Anyone who has the right to register a domain name can be included on the waiting list. Requests for inclusion on the waiting list can take place on DK Hostmasters website (www.dk-hostmaster.dk). Each domain name on the waiting list costs DKK 75 a year.

As soon as the domain name is available, it will be transferred to the first person on the waiting list. The waiting list function is described in more detail under point 5.3 under the terms and conditions.

7. VID domain names
If applied for, a domain name can be awarded VID status. Application for this is on the electronic form which can be accessed from www.dk-hostmaster.dk. VID status can only awarded if the registrant or the proxy has a permanent address in Denmark, and the address can be verified in the CPR (personal number) and CVR  (company number) registers.

If a domain name has been awarded VID status, DK Hostmaster will make sure that address changes with the registrant or the proxy in the CPR or CVR registries are automatically registered with DK Hostmaster.

One of the key aspects of the VID domain names, is that DK Hostmaster always warns the registrant about lack of payment by e-mail and subsequently by registered post. This is before a lack of payment can lead to deletion and suspension of the domain name. The VID domain name can, in other words, not be deleted as a result of a lack of payment before the registrant has had the opportunity to pay in the amount that is due.

Terms and conditions for VID domain names are described in more detail under point 5.4.

8. Payment
The user fee for a domain name is:
1-year:  DKK    62,50.
2-years:  DKK   125.
3-years:  DKK   187,50
5-years:  DKK   250

Apart from this, a fee is charged for extra services, such as waiting list fees (DKK 75 a year), VIP domain name fees (DKK 50 a year) and fees for an invoice on paper.

User fees for the first period of use are paid to DK Hostmaster by the registrator on behalf of the registrant. For subsequent periods, the registrant pays directly to DK Hostmaster.

Payment should take place via PBS (bank payment service) or another electronic medium specified by DK Hostmaster.

DK Hostmaster sends electronic invoices to the e-mail address that has been stated as the invoice address. DK Hostmaster will only send an invoice on paper if the registrant requests it. DK Hostmaster charges a DKK 12.50 fee for each invoice on paper that is sent.

Payment regulations are described in more detail under terms and conditions point 6.

9. Changes in contact information
In connection with an application for a domain name, the registrant should specify certain contact details, including invoice address, postal address and so on. The registrant should inform DK Hostmaster of any changes in this information.

10. Objections against registration
DK Hostmaster will not scrutinise whether a domain name violates a third party’s brand or any other rights. Registration of a domain name does not therefore mean that a third party cannot raise objections against the registration.

DK Hostmaster does not carry out any evaluation of any objections raised. If the parties cannot reach agreement, the objection must be brought before the Complaints Board for Domain Names or before the normal courts. However, in some cases, DK Hostmaster can independently choose to withdraw a domain name. DK Hostmasters option of cancelling an agreement is described in more detail below under point 17.

When DK Hostmaster has been notified that there is a dispute about a domain name at the Complaints Board for Domain Names or the normal courts, DK Hostmaster will note this under key information for the relevant domain name. This information can hereafter only be changed with the consent of DK Hostmaster. DK Hostmaster will remove the note when a final ruling or agreement has been made.

A more detailed description of regulations concerning objections to registration can be seen under point 8.

11. Publishing of information
Information on registered domain names is maintained as publicly accessible via DK Hostmasters whois service. Physical persons have the right to remain anonymous in the whois register on request. Information on the identity of a physical person can be forwarded to a third party, including the Complaints Board for Domain Names, if DK Hostmaster considers that the third party has a legal interest which surpasses the physical person’s interest in secrecy. See the terms and conditions under point 9.

12. Disclaimer
Neither DK Hostmaster nor DIFO are responsible for the registration of the registrant and the use of the domain name, and the registrant may not hold DK Hostmaster and DIFO liable for any claims on behalf of third parties caused by the registrant’s registration and use of the domain name.

The disclaimer can be seen in the terms and conditions under point 10.

13. Transferral of domain name
The registrant may freely transfer his/her domain name to a third party. The transfer should be reported to DK Hostmaster via www.dk-hostmaster.dk.

A disputed domain name can only be transferred with the approval of DK Hostmaster.

A more detailed description of the regulations for transferral of domain names can be seen under the terms and conditions under point 11.

14. Extension of punctuation
The punctuation for the .dk domain can be extended by DK Hostmaster following a decision by DIFO. In an extension of punctuation, there is a special procedure for allocation and registration of domain names, if several persons want the same domain name. The procedure is described in detail under the terms and conditions under point 12.

15. Changes in the terms and conditions
DK Hostmaster has the right to make changes in the terms and conditions with one months notice. See terms and conditions under point 13.

16. Cancellation of agreement
The registrant can at any time cancel the agreement, thereby deleting the domain name. If the agreement is for a number of years, the prepaid user fee is refunded with the exception of the user fee for the years passed and the present year. An administrative fee of DKK 62.50 will be deducted from the refund.

DK Hostmaster can cancel the agreement if DK Hostmaster discontinues its hostmaster function for the.dk domain, or if DIFO in extraordinary circumstances deems that there is the need to withdraw the domain name for the common good.

The cancellation of an agreement is described in more detail under terms and conditions point 14.1 and 14.2.

17. DK Hostmasters cancellation of an agreement
DK Hostmaster can cancel the agreement, if the contract is seriously breached by the registrant.

This includes lack of payment of any amount due. Cancellation will always take place as the final step in DK Hostmasters reminder and notice procedure and will not take place without DK Hostmaster having previously sent out a reminder stating that the lack of payment will lead to a cancellation of the agreement. For normal domain names, notices will be sent out by e-mail. DK Hostmaster takes responsibility for sending a reminder mail, but not responsibility for a reminder mail to have reached the registrant. The registrant can choose to equip his domain name with VIP status, which means that a reminder is sent out by e-mail, and if this is not reacted to, by registered post as described under point 7.

DK Hostmaster is obligated to cancel the agreement and delete the registration, if a decision has been made to this effect by a court, the Complaints Board for Domain Names, or if a public authority has issued an order to this effect.

If a domain name clearly violates a third party’s brand or other rights, or otherwise is clearly used in contravention of existing legislation, DK Hostmaster can suspend the domain name and give the registrant a deadline in which he/she can legalise the situation. If this does not take place before the given deadline, DK Hostmaster can request the Complaints Board for Domain Names to decide whether the domain name should be deleted or whether the cancellation should be lifted.

Regulations on DK Hostmasters cancellation of agreements are described in more detail under terms and conditions point 14.3, which includes a summary of all the situations which can lead to a cancellation of the agreement.