.eu wins abusive domain name registration case

Brussels, 14 September 2011 – The .eu registry, EURid, today implemented a court order to revoke almost 9 000 .eu domain names, following the resolution of a Brussels Court of Appeal case in EURid’s favour.

During 2006, EURid established that almost 9 000 .eu domain names had been registered by a registrant in violation of .eu registration regulations. Consequently, the .eu registry initiated court proceedings against her and, following an appeal, the Court of Appeal in Brussels decided in EURid’s favour.

“As the .eu top-level domain registry, we take the rules surrounding domain name registration very seriously. If the rules are broken, we address the situation and take legal action where appropriate,” said Marc Van Wesemael, General Manager of EURid.

In its decision issued on 21 September 2010, the Court of Appeal found that these .eu domain names were registered in bad faith and therefore the registrations were to be terminated. Allowing time for subsequent appeals and legal notifications, EURid is now authorised to implement the final court order and revoke the .eu domain names concerned.

Following EURid’s standard business terms, these revoked domain names are now in quarantine for 40 days. Then, these domain names will be released over a 48 hour period on 24 and 25 October 2011 for registration on a first-come, first-served basis. .eu domain names can be registered by anyone eligible whose request is received by EURid in the technically correct manner via a .eu accredited registrar. Any individual, organisation and business residing within the European Union is eligible to register .eu domain names.

The list of revoked .eu domain names is available HERE .

.eu registration policies are available for download HERE .