.org domain names

do you have to be a registered non-profit?

[Heywood_J]

I want to use a .org domain name. Do I have to be a registered non profit organization to use one? My site is for non profit information and there's nothing commercial with it?

[choster]

Anyone can register a dot org and use it for any purpose, although the Public Interest Registry (PIR), the group which administers it, does emphasize that it is intended for noncommercial purposes.

[xbase234]

Heywood - from what you have posted, it sounds like you are a perfect candidate for a .org domain.

[richlowe]

a perfect candidate for a .org domain

There is no such thing as a "perfect candidate" for .org. It is open for all for ANY purpose and unrestricted.

[xbase234]

True - but in staying with spirit of the neighborhood, a non-profit fits in well with .org, as opposed to say, a .com, or .net. There are no restrictions to any of those 3 tld's.

Cheers.

[amznVibe]

[pir.org...]

ORG has always been -- and will continue to be -- an open and unrestricted domain. Anyone is allowed to register and use .ORG domain names.

ICANN requires that .ORG remain an open and unrestricted domain.

PIR sees .ORG as an important resource and advocates strongly for .ORG's use as the home for noncommercial, non-profit and NGO interests on the Internet. Most Internet users expect to find noncommercial, non-profit and NGO sites in .ORG.

Noncommercial endeavors are those not conducted or maintained for the purpose of making a profit. This wide range includes (but isn't limited to) charitable, artistic, scientific, personal, educational, social, cultural, and religious endeavors.

.ORG sites are run by clubs, incorporated and unincorporated not-for-profit organizations, industry associations, families, individuals, schools, foundations, and more. Even for-profit companies run .ORG sites devoted to their noncommercial activities, such as charitable or volunteer programs.

Many noncommercial organizations conduct commerce to support their activities. Examples include clubs that raise funds, hospitals, noncommercial Web sites that run advertising to support their operations, and so on.