.in Regulations
Code IN
Why register .in?
India, located in South Asia, has a large and dense population. It's the home of Bollywood and the Hindi Film Industry. India is also known for an old train network and its sporting culture. It borders the Indian Ocean, Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. India has a large mammal, bird species, reptile, amphibian, and fish inhabitation. Interestingly, India is also home to 6.0% of all flowering plant species.
If you conduct business from India it is time to register a .in domain extension. Registering a dot 'IN' country code extension (top level domain name) will increase credibility for your business across the globe. Why? Country-code domains are meant specifically for businesses that do business within a particular country--in this case, Indian. The .com domain (and other generic TLDs) are not targeted and that online space is saturated--and you likely already have the .com for your business.
Extend your brand presence with a more relevant, shorter domain--a ccTLD that differentiates you from competitors. Identify yourself as an official Indian business owner and give your clients and constituents more confidence as they interact with you online. Country code domains also help you rank higher in local search results.
co.in
firm.in
gen.in
in.net
ind.in
net.in
org.in
1.Preamble
This Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (hereinafter referred to as policy) shall set forth the terms and conditions to resolve disputes, if any, arising between an assignee of a Domain Name and a third party over the registration and use of an Internet Domain Name by an assignee.
The National Centre for Software Technology (NCST hereinafter referred to as Domain Registrar) the first party and the assignee of Domain Name (hereinafter referred to as assignee) the second party, have agreed to incorporate in the registration application, following terms and conditions arising out of any dispute about an Internet Domain Name and its use by third party having sufficient interest in such an Internet Domain Name.
2.Your Representation
The applicant for a new Domain Name or assignee of existing Domain Name at all times hereby represent and warrant that :
The statements made in the registration form are complete, accurate and no vital information has been concealed which may make them ineligible for allotment of Domain Name requested for in the application for registration.
The registration of the Domain name shall not infringe upon or otherwise violate/restrict any rights of any third party.
Registration of Domain Name is only for lawful activity/services.
The Domain Name shall not be used in violation of any applicable laws or regulations.
The applicant/assignee shall himself satisfy and remain responsible to determine whether Domain Name assigned infringes or violates any third party rights and its use thereof violates any applicable laws or regulations.
The Domain Name registration shall confirm to all existing laws, rules and regulations as applicable to Trade mark registration and Information Technology laws enforced from time to time.
3.Registration of Domain Name
A new Domain Name shall be registered or existing Domain Name extended for a further period as per the terms and conditions decided by the Domain Registrar (notified from time-to-time) and on receipt of prescribed fee, only under the relevant category (.org.in, .net.in, .res.in, .ind.in etc)as applicable to the applicant.
Both off-line and on-line registration shall be done as per sole discretion of the Domain Registrar. Detailed procedure for registration is given here.
4.Change in Category of Registration
Change in category as well as multiple registrations would be considered by the Domain Registrar on the merit of each case and having been satisfied with the claim.
5.Cancellation, Transfer and Changes
The Domain Registrar shall in his sole discretion and power vested upon him may cancel, transfer or otherwise make changes to Domain Name registrations under the following circumstances:
On receipt of written or appropriate electronic instructions from the applicant/assignee or his authorized agent.
On any direction/orders from a court of law or arbitral tribunal having its competent jurisdiction, requiring such action.
On receipt of a decision of Internet Management Group (IMG) requiring such action as above.
The Domain Registrar shall intimate the assignee/applicant about any appeal/representation orders/decision received by them from any competent authority before taking action.
The Domain Registrar shall not be held responsible or liable for any costs or consequences that may arise out of such cancellation, transfer or the changes made to the Domain Name.
6.Mandatory Resolution Procedure
The Domain Registrar shall intimate to the assignee that a third party complaint has been filed with him giving details of the complaint (Name, Address, cause of complaint) through a registered letter as well as e-mail.
The Domain Registrar shall give an opportunity to the assignee to represent his case within 15 days of receipt of notice. An oral hearing may also be granted where both parties could present their cases arising out of such dispute.
A decision in writing shall be communicated by the Domain Registrar, within one month of receipt of final hearing which shall be binding on all concerned.
In case of dissatisfaction with the decision of Domain Registrar the petitioner/assignee shall be free to appeal to IMG in writing with appropiate documents with a copy to the Domain Registrar.
Any appeal against the decision by IMG can be filed in the appropriate court in Mumbai within six weeks of the communication of such decision of IMG in writing or by e-mail.
7.Scope of Disputes
A dispute over the Domain Name assigned may arise under following conditions:
Assigned Domain Name is identical or confusingly similar to a trade mark or service mark in which the complainant has rightful claim.
Assignee has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the Domain Name.
Assignee has sold/auctioned/transferred the Domain Name to a third party without taking approval of Domain Registrar.
Domain Name has not been used by the assignee for over one year.
A complaint of cyber squatting has been received.
Any other dispute, accepted by the Domain Registrar in his own discretion.
All other disputes between assignees and third party regarding Domain Name can be taken up through any court, arbitration or other proceedings that may be available.
8.Domain Registrar's Involvement
Domain Registrar shall not participate or become party to any dispute between the Assignee and the Third party for matters other than Domain Name dispute.
Assignee shall not name or involve the Domain Registrar as one of the party. In case the Domain Registrar is made a party, the party naming him shall be liable to reimburse to the Domain Registrar all costs and expenses that shall be incurred by the Domain Registrar on the said case.
9. Transfer During a Dispute
Assignee shall not transfer the assigned Domain Name registration to a Third party.
Such transfer, if done without approval of Domain Registrar, shall result in Domain Name being cancelled.
This can also make an assignee responsible and liable for any other action as per law.
10. Policy Modification
Domain Registrar reserves the right to modify policy from time to time with the approval of IMG. Such revised policy shall be posted on the website http://domain.ncst.ernet.in at least 30 days before due date of its implementation. This period could be reduced, if situation warrants, by the competent authority, or by order of a court of law.
In case assignee does not agree to the changed policy, he can withdraw his Domain Name. However, no refund on registration fee shall be payable.
The Domain Registrar reserves the right to decline registration of any Domain Name without assigning any reasons.
Generic names are not allowed.(eg. news.co.in, shipping.gov.in are not allowed)
For domains under all categories, except ind.in and gen.in, the domain must be derived from the name of the organisation name/entity. (eg. A registered company Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited can opt for a domain bhel.co.in but NOT xyz.co.in or bharat.co.in)
Organisations should register the domain name within the appropriate second level domains(SLDs) that corresponds to the type of the organisation/entity as outlined in the below table. (eg. An academic institute Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay can opt for a domain iitb.ac.in but NOT iitb.firm.in or iitb.mil.in)
The Administrative contact of the domain must be from the organisation/entity requesting the domain name.
For domains under all categories, except ind.in and gen.in, the organisation/entity applying for the domain name must have it's office in India.
It is necessary to run domain name servers(DNS servers) for the domain being registered. These servers provide the service for translating domain names to IP addresses for hosts in the domain
These name servers may belong to either the organisation or the Internet Service Provider/Web Service Provider(ISP/WSP).
The ISP/WSP can be located in ANY PART of the world.
The name servers can be located in ANY PART of the world.
It is recommended that there are at least two independent name servers(primary and secondary name server)
It is mandatory to run atleast the primary nameserver for the domain.
The name servers must be up, permanently connected to the Internet, and configured correctly to respond to DNS requests for the domain, before the application is submitted.
Establishing the primary and secondary name servers in physically separate locations and on different networks is strongly recommended.
Please click on a category given below, to get the conditions and requirements for the corresponding category.
co.in -- For Registered Companies/Trademarks/Banks
firm.in -- For Proprietary Concerns/Partnership Firms/Shops/Liaison Offices
ac.in -- For Academic Community
res.in -- For Research Institutes
gov.in -- For Government Organisations
mil.in -- For Military Establishments
net.in -- For Internet Service Providers
in -- For Internet Service Providers
org.in -- For Non-profit Organisations
ind.in -- For Individuals
gen.in -- For General/Miscellaneous Purpose
Who can apply Registered Companies/Organizations
Requirements If domain name is derived from the company name, then the company must be registered with Registrar of Companies in India.
If domain name is same as the trademark, then the trademark must be registered in India with the Trademark Registry of India.
If domain name is derived from the bank name, then the bank must be approved by Reserve Bank of India.
The domain will be provisionally activated immediately if the conditions given above are satisfied.
Domain Name should confirm to the syntax.
The domain will be allotted once the necessary documents and the payment reach within 1 month from the date of activation of domain name.
If the documents and the payment fail to reach us within the stipulated period, the domain name will be deactivated.
Documents Required Certificate from the Registrar of Companies
Trademark registration certificate, if domain is company's trademark. If the trademark has not been registered yet, then a copy of the application made for the trademark and the search documents provided by Trademark Registry, to indicate that the required trademark has been searched through in all classes should be submitted.
Banks should submit a copy of the approval they receive from Reserve Bank of India.
Registration Charges Rs. 1500 for two years
Who can apply Proprietory Concerns, Partnership Firms, Shops, Liaison office of MNCs operating from abroad.
Requirements The domain will be activated and allotted on receipt of the payment and provided all the conditions given above are satisfied.
Documents Required A written request in form of a letter or fax, on the letterhead of the Organization.
ac.in
Who can apply Public and Private educational institutions, Primary and Secondary Schools, Government and Private Colleges, Professional and Vocational Institutes, Universities
Documents Required A written request in form of a letter or fax,on the letterhead of the Organization.
res.in
Who can apply Research Institutes
gov.in
Who can apply Indian Government Organisations (See the list of organisations registered under .gov).Allotment of gov.in is restricted to Government Departments only and not for Govt Undertakings, Autonomous bodies,Quasi Govt bodies etc under the administrative control of the Govt.
Requirements The request should come from state or central government department, in writing, in addition to online registration.
This written request should be in the form of a letter or fax, on the letterhead of the concerned officer/department of the Government.
Govt. Department could refer to the list of Govt. organisations already registered with us in order to avoid duplication / name clash.
At the State level the request should be from the Chief Secretary of the State or a Secretary of the State Govt as delegated by the Chief Secretary.
For registration at District, City, Taluka and panchayat levels, the request should come from the District Collector.
For a central level department (e.g Customs, Income-Tax), ideally the head/central office should request for a domain name. Alternatively a suffix/prefix should be added to the domain name, to give its location identity.
The administrative contact address to be filled in the on-line form must be same as the address of the concerned officer/Department of the government.
Intermediaries or ISPs are not allowed to apply on behalf of any government department, for registration under this category.
The domain will be activated and allotted on receipt of the payment and provided all the conditions given above are satisfied.
Documents Required A written request in form of a letter or fax, on the letterhead of the concerned officer/Department of the government, as described above.
mil.in
Who can apply Only for Military Establishments
Documents Required A written request in form of a letter or fax, on the letterhead of the concerned officer/Department of the Military Establishment.
net.in, .in
Who can apply Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
Requirements The net.in and .in domain are specifically reserved for network service providers and e-mail service providers (commonly called ISPs) in India. This domain is alloted on producing a copy of DoT license for ISP operations.
If the domain name is same as the trademark, then the trademark must be registered with the Trademark Registry of India.
The domain will be provisionally activated immediately if all the conditions given above are satisfied.
The domain will be allotted once the necessary documents and the payment reach within 1 month from the date of application of domain name.
If these documents and the payment fail to reach us within the stipulated period, the domain name will be de-activated.
Documents Required ISP license issued by the DoT India, and
Trademark registration documents, if domain is company's trademark. If the trademark has not been registered yet, a copy of the application made for the trademark and the search documents provided by Trademark Registry, to indicate that the required trademark has been searched through in all the classes should be submitted.
Who can apply Non-profit organisations, Voluntary services, Charitable institutions, Social and Religious services, Societies, Political parties, Sports associations
Requirements The applicant should belong to the above mentioned category.
.IN Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (INDRP)
Posted 28 June 2005
Arbitrator refers to the experts who have expertise on computer and/or laws, possess a high sense of professional ethics and are capable of rendering independent and unbiased decisions in domain name disputes.
Complainant refers to the person who has complaint against the Registrant.
.IN Registry: Wherever used in this policy and the rules hereunder .IN Registry refers to the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI), a company registered under section 25 of the Indian Companies Act 1956.
Person includes an individual,institution, organization, company, partnership or any other legal entity etc.
Registrar shall mean a domain name registrar who is duly accredited with the .IN Registry pursuant to a Registrar Accreditation Agreement and is listed on the website of the .IN Registry, www.registry.in.
"Registrant" is a holder of the .in Internet domain name.
This .IN Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the "Policy") sets out the terms and conditions to resolve a dispute between the Registrant and the Complainant, arising out of the registration and use of the .in Internet Domain Name.
The Registrant's Representations
By applying to register a domain name, or by asking a Registrar to maintain or renew a domain name registration, the Registrant represents and warrants that:
(a) the statements that the Registrant made in the Registrant's Application Form for Registration of Domain Name are complete and accurate;
(b) to the Registrant's knowledge, the registration of the domain name will not infringe upon or otherwise violate the rights of any third party;
(c) the Registrant is not registering the domain name for an unlawful purpose; and
(d) the Registrant will not knowingly use the domain name in violation of any applicable laws or regulations.
It is the Registrant's responsibility to determine whether the Registrant's domain name registration infringes or violates someone else's rights.
Types of Disputes
Any Person who considers that a registered domain name conflicts with his legitimate rights or interests may file a
Complaint to the .IN Registry on the following premises:
(i) the Registrant's domain name is identical or confusingly similar to a name, trademark or service mark in which the Complainant has rights;
(ii) the Registrant has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the domain name; and
(iii) the Registrant's domain name has been registered or is being used in bad faith.
The Registrant is required to submit to a mandatory Arbitration proceeding in the event that a Complainant files a complaint to the .IN Registry, in compliance with this Policy and Rules thereunder.
Procedure of Dispute Resolution
The .IN Registry shall appoint an Arbitrator out of the list of arbitrators maintained by the Registry.
The List of the Arbitrators shall be published on line by the .IN Registry on its website at www.registry.in.
The Arbitrator shall conduct the Arbitration Proceedings in accordance with the Arbitration & Conciliation Act 1996 as amended from time to time and also in accordance with this Policy and rules provided thereunder.
Evidence of Registration and use of Domain Name in Bad Faith
For the purposes of Paragraph 4(iii), the following circumstances, in particular but without limitation, if found by the Arbitrator to be present, shall be evidence of the registration and use of a domain name in bad faith:
(i) circumstances indicating that the Registrant has registered or acquired the domain name primarily for the purpose of selling, renting, or otherwise transferring the domain name registration to the Complainant, who bears the name or is the owner of the trademark or service mark, or to a competitor of that Complainant, for valuable consideration in excess of the Registrant's documented out-of-pocket costs directly related to the domain name; or
(ii) the Registrant has registered the domain name in order to prevent the owner of the trademark or service mark from reflecting the mark in a corresponding domain name, provided that the Registrant has engaged in a pattern of such conduct; or
(iii) by using the domain name, the Registrant has intentionally attempted to attract Internet users to the Registrant's website or other
on-line location, by creating a likelihood of confusion with the Complainant's name or mark as to the source, sponsorship, affiliation, or endorsement of the Registrant's website or location or of a product or service on the Registrant's website or location.
Registrant's Rights to and Legitimate Interests in the Domain Name
Any of the following circumstances, in articular but without limitation, if found by the Arbitrator to be proved based on its evaluation of all evidence presented, shall demonstrate the Registrant's rights to or legitimate interests in the domain name for the purposes of Paragraph 4 (ii) :
(i) before any notice to the Registrant of the dispute, the Registrant's use of, or demonstrable preparations to use, the domain name or a name corresponding to the domain name in connection with a bona fide offering of goods or services;
(ii) the Registrant (as an individual, business, or other organization) has been commonly known by the domain name, even if the Registrant has acquired no trademark or service mark rights; or
(iii) the Registrant is making a legitimate non-commercial or fair use of the domain name, without intent for commercial gain to misleadingly divert consumers or to tarnish the trademark or service mark at issue.
Except as otherwise stated in this policy or the Rules hereunder, all fees charged by the .IN Registry in connection with any dispute pursuant to this Policy shall be paid by the Complainant.
Involvement of Registry and the Registrar in Arbitration Proceedings
The Registry and the Registrars shall not participate in the domain name dispute resolution proceedings in any capacity or manner other than providing the information relevant to the registration and use of the domain name upon the request of the Arbitrator. Neither the Registry nor the Registrar shall be liable for any decisions rendered by an Arbitrator.
The remedies available to a Complainant pursuant to any proceeding before an Arbitrator shall be limited to requiring the cancellation of the Registrant's domain name or the transfer of the Registrant's domain name registration to the Complainant. Costs as may be deemed fit may also be awarded by the Arbitrator.
Notification and Publication
All decisions under this Policy will be published in full over the Internet, except when an Arbitration Panel decides in an exceptional case to edit portions of its decision.
Transfers During a Dispute
The Registrant shall not transfer a domain name registration to another holder:
(i) In case an Arbitration proceeding is initiated pursuant to this policy, for a period of fifteen (15) working days ("working day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday) after such proceeding is concluded; or
(ii) during a pending court proceeding or arbitration commenced regarding the domain name, unless the party to whom the domain name registration is being transferred agrees, in writing, to be bound by the decision of the court or arbitrator.
The Registry reserves the right to cancel any transfer of a domain name registration to another holder that is made in violation of this paragraph.
The Government of India reserves the right to add, delete, amend or modify this Policy (and the rules framed thereunder) at any time. The revised policy shall be posted on the website of the registry at www.registry.in at least Fifteen (15) calendar days before it becomes effective. The complaints submitted prior to the date of implementation of the revised policy would be entertained and decided in accordance with the policy in force at the time of filing the complaint. However, with effect from the date the revised policy comes in existence all complaints filed would be dealt with as per the revised policy. The Registrants shall be bound by the terms and conditions of the policy, rules, guidelines, bylaws framed by the .IN Registry from time to time.