Print this page

Global Responsibility

As the Administrator of the .CO top-level domain, we both recognize and embrace our responsibility to serve as a trustee for the .CO domain – a unique digital resource with broad, global appeal.  We are committed to managing both the .CO registry, and the domain name system that underpins it, as a steward of both the local and the global Internet communities.

Here’s what that means to you:

Your Domain Names Are Safe
No matter who you are or where you are in the world, when you register a .CO domain name, you can do so with confidence.  We have built the .CO registry on a globally distributed, state-of-the-art platform with the highest standards of stability, security and performance to seamlessly power the resolution of domain names in every corner of the world.

You can rest assured that for every person who types in a .CO domain address, or sends an email to someone with a .CO email, the traffic will be quickly and efficiently routed to the correct place 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. And if a threat should arise that threatens the security of your domain – we will take swift and appropriate action on your behalf.

Your Rights Are Protected
In building the .CO registry, we have followed internationally accepted and well-recognized best practices in trademark and IP policy to ensure that your rights are protected every step of the way.  CO will be launched and managed in a fair, equitable and sustainable way – making .CO domains a great asset to businesses, brand owners and entrepreneurs the world over. 

Some of the key rights protection mechanisms we have implemented include:

  •   Carefully Structured Sunrise Process. Sunrise is the period in which owners of registered trademarks are given the chance to register matching domains before the general public. 
  •   Trademark Validations. Through our partner Deloitte, we have set up a process for checking the eligibility of the legal rights claimed as the basis of each Sunrise application through official international trademark registration databases and submitted documentary evidence. 
  •   Accredited Registrars.  There are only ten accredited registrars authorized to sell .CO domains directly or through their reseller networks around the world.  This helps us ensure for the highest quality standards and consistent support that you can rely on.
  • Eligibility Cut Off Dates. To prevent people from abusing the system by seeking out expedited trademarks for generic terms, a trademark eligibility cut off date of July 30th, 2008 has been established.    
  • Reservation of Premium Names. The .CO registry will hold back certain generic words and phrases from Sunrise to be allocated via auctions or other defined allocation processes.
  • Domain Auctions for Multi-Applications. Instead of the chaos of a first-come-first-served system, qualified applicants for the same domain name during Sunrise will be able to bid for the name by participating in a fair, online auction.  All applications received during each Sunrise phase will be considered received at the same time.  Matching applications will go to auction.  
  • Uniform Dispute Resolution Process. We have contracted with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to oversee the arbitration and mediation of domain name disputes that may arise in the future.
  • Reliable Whois Data. .CO domain owners will not be able to shield their name and contact information from the public WhoIS database by using proxy services to protect their anonymity.  In addition, registrants are required to keep WhoIs data updated and accurate at all times.
  • Rapid Takedown Process.  We have a process in place to rapidly take down any website in cases where phishing, pharming, malware, or other significant security threats have been identified.  We are also putting in place policies to quickly suspend domains in instances where serial cyber-squatting can be established.


Shaping the Future of the Global Internet
As the steward of the .CO domain, we believe it is our responsibility to play an active role in helping to keep the Internet a stable, secure engine for creativity, innovation and economic development across time zones, cultures and geographical boundaries.

You can count on .CO Internet to play a significant role on the international stage by helping to define and develop the policies, standards and practices that govern the global Internet. Through our associations with ICANN (The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), LACNIC, LACTLD, and other venues, we actively support and promote the security, stability and resiliency of the Internet's naming and addressing system. 

Whether directly, or through one of our trusted partners, like Neustar or Deloitte, we are committed to working collaboratively with national governments, private sector businesses, Internet pioneers, infrastructure operators, policy and business organizations, and thought leaders the world over to help to build and grow an expansive, sustainable, global digital economy.