Can't Register some ccTLD Domains

due to requirement of physical presence

[Web_Savvy]

We're currently building up a portfolio of country-specific (ccTLD) domains of our brand.

After extensive research, we've been able to classify various ccTLDs into 3 categories:

1. Those that can be registered (of course, subject to availability,) by just about anyone (without the requirement of a physical presence of the registrant in the country - e.g UK)

2. Those that require a physical presence - either direct or through an agent - in the country. (e.g. .be, .nl)

3. Those that require a physical presence, and DO NOT permit third-parties to represent local presence. (e.g. .fr, .ca, .au)

While classes 1 and 2 above are easily manageable, it is class 3 that is proving to be a big trouble for us. I'm sure there are (legally / officially permissible) ways to do this (short of opening branch offices in those countries ;-)), but we can't find any.

Can the members here provide any help on this please?

Thanks in advance.

[leadegroot]

In respect of .au - you might be able to come up with something from these exceptions:
* a foreign company licensed to trade in Australia; or
* an owner of an Australian Registered Trade Mark; or
* an applicant for an Australian Registered Trade Mark ; or
per [auda.org.au...]

(I don't know how you would get or become any of these)

[Web_Savvy]

Thanks for the info, leadegroot.

* an applicant for an Australian Registered Trade Mark

This might be well worth exploring, especially if they allow trade mark registration applications to be filed

a) by foreign entities and
b) online,

like the USPTO.

[and don't charge a hand and a leg ;-)]

[Leosghost]

France can be covered by using a french lawyer ( or any french citizen ..however I recommend using a lawyer ( "avocat" en français ) to register your dot fr ..

dot eu ..best way is to register a uk ltd company and let it register the dot eu

[encyclo]

For .ca domains, there are provisions for registering a domain when you are the trade-mark holder. You can register "a .ca domain name consisting of or including the exact word component of that registered trade-mark". Source: Canadian Presence Requirements For Registrants (PDF) [cira.ca]. More details on the CIRA website [cira.ca].

[Web_Savvy]

Thanks for the useful input Leo and encyclo.

I was hoping (against hope) for some quick and easy online solution/s (instant gratification?) but doesn't look like it is going to happen. :-(

Well, got to get our..er.. selves moving, then. ;-)

[Web_Savvy]

Please keep some more ideas flowing, folks :-)

Especially now, that Google's Adam Lasnik has sort-of officially endorsed ccTLDs,
we're all the more interested in getting'em all!

[Leosghost]

french legislation and the afnic limits my suggestions to the above ..there are no alternatives ..

[afnic.fr...]

BTW the english language version of registration criteria pages at the afnic are off line for updating since a while now .so you'll have to read them in french ..or not depending on your linguistic ability ..

this article in english does pretty much cover the current situation ..it was written two years ago ..but the law now is as they detailed it would be ..

[demys.net...]

and is why as I pointed out to Adam elsewhere ..G's attitude ( and MSN is just as guilty ) is ridiculous and does not take into account the realities of certain TLD law and the creation of TLD's in some juristictions ..

[edited by: Leosghost at 3:05 pm (utc) on Dec. 19, 2006]

[Web_Savvy]

Thanks again, Leo, and I think I owe a small clarification here:

When I said 'keep more ideas flowing', I did not mean it in the specific context of .fr registration. In other words, I was not doubting what you mentioned about .fr registration options.

What I meant (and failed to clarify) was to invite ideas about registering other ccTLDs with similar restrictions,
e.g. .hk, .np etc.

[Leosghost]

's aright ..:)