IE Domain Registry (IEDR) is all set to liberalize the .IE domain name space to encourage more businesses, communities, individuals, clubs, citizens etc. The current set of rules demand an individual or a business to prove a valid claim to the desired name along with a tangible connection to the island of Ireland to register a .IE domain name.
According to sources, the ‘name to claim’ requirement was a major barrier for Irish start-ups since a lot of businesses were not registered with the CRO (Companies Registration Office). Sources also said that last year, a similar situation had led to an agreement to remove the exclusion of local authorities to place names or organizations from registering a .IE address with their local place name. Since then, over a 100 geographic names have been registered after the introduction of a new policy.
Shedding light on the decision, David Curtin, Chief Executive Officer at IEDR, said:
By simplifying the .ie registration process, it will be easier to get a preferred website address or e-mail address which will have a clear, identifiably Irish connection. More people, organizations, communities and businesses across Ireland, and those around the world with Irish heritage or Irish operations, will be able to reach out to the wider Internet community, communicate with their customers, and buy and sell online with e-commerce.
Sources say that this matter has been taken seriously by the PAC and is currently devising mechanisms to simplify the process. The new policy change is scheduled to come into effect by March 2018.