Electronic Commerce Act, 2000

PART 4

Domain Name Registration

Registration of domain names.

31.—(1) The Minister may, by regulations made for the purpose of easy comprehension, fairness, transparency, avoidance of deception, promotion of fair competition and public confidence under section 3 after consultation with the Minister for Enterprise. Trade and Employment and such other persons and public bodies, if any, as the Minister thinks fit, including the body known as the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, authorise, prohibit or regulate the registration and use of the ie domain name in the State.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the regulations may prescribe—

(a) designated registration authorities,

(b) the form of registration,

(c) the period during which registration continues in force,

(d) the manner in which, the terms on which and the period or periods for which registration may be renewed,

(e) the circumstances and manner in which registrations may be granted, renewed or refused by the registration authorities,

(f) the right of appeal and appeal processes,

(g) the fees, if any, to be paid on the grant or renewal of registration and the time and manner in which such fees are to be paid,

(h) such other matters relating to registration as appear to the Minister to be necessary or desirable to prescribe.

(3) A person who contravenes or fails to comply with a regulation made pursuant to this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £500.

(4) In this section, “ie domain name” means the top level of the global domain name system assigned to Ireland according to the two-letter code in the International Standard ISO 3166-1 (Codes for Representation of Names of Countries and their Subdivision) of the International Organisation for Standardisation.