We cooperate with requests from Law Enforcement agencies for access to information regarding .ie domain name registrations which are suspected of engaging in illegality activity. This is in line with our Terms and Conditions of Service. We respond rapidly to comply with Court Orders.

This protocol is in place to help with submission of allegations of illegality from national Regulatory Bodies in the island of Ireland. Reports of alleged illegal activity should be emailed to complaints@weare.ie by the relevant Regulatory Authority.

We contact the registrant of the domain name registration that is the subject of the allegation to notify them that a complaint has been received. The registrant is asked to engage with us within a defined time period. They are asked  to address the matter, by either stopping the offending activity or by outlining their position on the matter (in line with our Terms and Conditions of Service).

Failure to address a request adequately can result in action being taken by the Regulatory Authority against the domain registration to resolve the matter. This action can result in the suspension or deletion of the domain name registration, without further notice.

Satisfactory Response

If the registrant provides a satisfactory response (e.g. stops any suspected illegal activity, defends the registration), and the relevant Regulatory Body is satisfied with the response, no further action is taken against the registration.

Unsatisfactory Response

If the registrant fails to respond/fails to address the matter to the satisfaction of the Regulatory Authority, we reserve the right to suspend or delete the domain registration without further notification. This does not interfere with a registrant’s statutory rights, and the registrant may choose a legal course of action to delay/stall/avoid deletion.

A formal dispute resolution process is available for handling complaints relating to .ie domain name registrations. This process is operated by an independent arbitrator, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). Where a complaint is upheld, we implement the WIPO decision and ensure that the disputed registration is transferred to the successful complainant.  This happens 21 days after the decision is made, provided that no legal challenge to appeal the decision has been lodged.

For a complaint to be upheld, the complainant must demonstrate the following three conditions:

• a domain name is identical or misleadingly similar to a protected identifier in which the Complainant has rights; and
• the Registrant has no rights in law or legitimate interests in respect of a domain name^{Note 1}; and
• a domain name has been registered or is being used in bad faith^{Note 2}.

Further detailed information on this process is available here.

Note 1 – Evidence of rights or Legitimate Interests in a domain name can be demonstrated by circumstances as set out in Section 10.(b)3 of the registrant terms and conditions.

Note 2 – Evidence of in Bad Faith registration or use of a domain name can be demonstrated by circumstances as set out in Section 10.(b).2 of the registrant terms and conditions.

Complaints relating to alleged breaches of the Registrant Terms and Conditions or Registration & Naming Policy are reviewed, using the internal complaint handling process.

For the purposes of complaint handling, please note the guidelines in determining Legitimate Interest^{Note 1} and Bad Faith^{Note 2}. The potential remedies are set out in Sections 3(f)(vi) and 3(f)(vi) respectively.

For the purpose of complaint handling, cybersquatting is defined as:

Cybersquatting occurs when a party deliberately registers a domain that reflects another’s trademark, or brand, in bad faith and/or for profit. This can also involve the registration of domain names that are similar to a trademark or brand, which includes a spelling error. This is known as typo-squatting.

We contact the registrant of the domain name that is the subject of the allegation to notify them that a complaint has been received. The registrant is asked to engage within a defined time period, to address the matter, to respond to the complaint and/or demonstrate that they are compliant with the Terms and Conditions of Service/Registration & Naming Policy. Alternatively, they should outline their position on the matter. Failure to address a request adequately can result in action being taken against the domain registration to resolve the matter. This action can include the suspension or deletion of the domain name registration, with notice.

(NB: Disputes of a legal nature, allegations of bad faith, defamation, slander, and passing off, may need to be resolved in the Courts. If this happens, we will wait for the Court’s decision).

Satisfactory Response

If the registrant provides a satisfactory response, (e.g. shows that they are not in breach of the Terms and Conditions), no further action is taken.

Unsatisfactory Response

If the registrant fails to respond/fails to satisfactorily address the matter, we reserve the right to suspend or delete the domain registration, with notice.

Note 1 – Evidence of rights or Legitimate Interests in a domain name can be demonstrated by circumstances as set out in Section 10.(b)3 of the registrant terms and conditions.

Note 2 – Evidence of in Bad Faith registration or use of a domain name can be demonstrated by circumstances as set out in Section 10.(b).2 of the registrant terms and conditions.