Rules and Regulations

1. Rules Overview

These Rules and Regulations establish the governance framework for all Unregistry services, including domain registration, Web3 domains, APIs, and partner programs. All users, registrants, partners, and service providers must comply with these rules.

Our rules are designed to ensure fair use, protect intellectual property rights, maintain service quality, and comply with applicable laws and industry standards.

2. Acceptable Use Policy

This policy defines acceptable and prohibited uses of Unregistry services:

2.1 Permitted Uses

• Legitimate business websites and applications
• Personal websites and blogs
• Educational and non-profit initiatives
• Artistic and creative content (within legal bounds)
• Web3 and blockchain applications
• E-commerce and online services
• Technical documentation and APIs

2.2 Prohibited Uses

• Illegal Activities: Any illegal content or activities under applicable law
• Spam and Abuse: Unsolicited bulk communications or network abuse
• Malware: Distribution of viruses, trojans, or malicious software
• Phishing: Deceptive practices to steal credentials or personal information
• Copyright Infringement: Unauthorized use of copyrighted material
• Trademark Abuse: Unauthorized use of trademarks or brand names
• Hate Speech: Content promoting hatred or violence against individuals or groups
• Adult Content: Pornographic or sexually explicit material (unless properly regulated)
• Financial Scams: Fraudulent investment schemes or financial fraud

3. Domain Registration Rules

3.1 Registration Requirements

• Eligibility: Users must be 18+ years old or have legal capacity
• Accurate Information: All registration data must be current and truthful
• Payment: Full payment required before domain activation
• Compliance: Agreement to all terms, policies, and applicable laws

3.2 Registration Restrictions

• One registration per available domain name
• No registration of domains infringing intellectual property rights
• No registration for illegal purposes or prohibited content
• No registration using false or misleading information
• Compliance with specific TLD registry policies

3.3 First-Come, First-Served Basis

Domain registrations are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. We do not reserve or hold domains except as required by applicable policies or legal obligations.

3.4 Premium Domain Allocation

Certain premium domains may be subject to special allocation procedures, including auctions, lotteries, or qualification requirements as determined by Unregistry.

4. Web3 Domain Governance

Web3 .u domains are subject to additional governance requirements:

4.1 Blockchain Integration

• NFT Minting: Each domain automatically minted as NFT upon registration
• On-Chain Ownership: Domain ownership recorded on supported blockchains
• Smart Contract Compliance: All transfers must follow smart contract rules
• Gas Fees: Users responsible for blockchain transaction fees

4.2 @u Handle System

• @u handles managed through FIO Protocol integration
• Handle ownership linked to domain ownership
• Compliance with FIO Protocol governance and policies
• Additional fees may apply for handle operations

4.3 Decentralized Resolution

• Support for IPFS and other decentralized hosting
• ENS (Ethereum Name Service) compatibility
• Multi-chain resolution capabilities
• Traditional DNS fallback support

5. Naming Conventions

5.1 Technical Requirements

• Character Set: Letters (a-z), numbers (0-9), hyphens (-)
• Length: Minimum 1 character, maximum 63 characters
• Format: Cannot start or end with hyphens
• Case Insensitive: Domain names are case-insensitive
• International: IDN (Internationalized Domain Names) supported for certain TLDs

5.2 Prohibited Names

Category	Examples	Reason
Reserved Terms	www, mail, ftp, admin	Technical infrastructure
Trademark	Famous brands, company names	Intellectual property protection
Geographic	Country names, city names (restricted)	Policy compliance
Offensive	Hate speech, profanity	Community standards
Misleading	Government agencies, official entities	Fraud prevention

5.3 Premium Naming

• Single Characters: Tier 1 premium pricing
• Two Characters: Tier 2 premium pricing
• Dictionary Words: Premium pricing based on value
• Industry Terms: Sector-specific premium pricing
• Geographic Names: Location-based premium pricing

6. WHOIS Policy

WHOIS data publication and management requirements:

6.1 Required WHOIS Data

• Registrant name and organization
• Registrant contact email
• Registration and expiration dates
• Name servers
• Domain status
• Registrar information

6.2 Data Accuracy Requirements

• All WHOIS information must be accurate and current
• Updates required within 7 days of changes
• Response required to verification inquiries
• Failure to maintain accurate data may result in suspension

6.3 Privacy Protection

• Privacy proxy services available for eligible domains
• GDPR compliance for EU registrants
• Limited data disclosure per applicable privacy laws
• Legitimate interest balancing for public access

7. Domain Abuse Policy

Our comprehensive policy for addressing domain abuse:

7.1 Types of Abuse

• Technical Abuse: Malware, botnets, DNS hijacking
• Content Abuse: Phishing, spam, illegal content
• Identity Abuse: Trademark infringement, impersonation
• Registration Abuse: False WHOIS, registration violations

7.2 Reporting Mechanisms

• Abuse Email: [email protected]
• Web Form: Online abuse reporting system
• Law Enforcement: Direct reporting channels for authorities
• Industry Partners: Integration with security organizations

7.3 Response Procedures

• Initial Review: 24-hour acknowledgment
• Investigation: 5 business days for standard cases
• Registrant Notification: Opportunity to respond
• Resolution: Appropriate action based on findings
• Appeals: Process for challenging decisions

8. Partner and Reseller Rules

Special requirements for registrars and resellers:

8.1 Partner Qualification

• Valid business registration and license
• Technical capability to integrate with our systems
• Compliance with all applicable laws and regulations
• Financial stability and payment capability
• Agreement to partner-specific terms and SLAs

8.2 Partner Obligations

• Customer Support: Provide adequate support to end users
• Compliance: Ensure customer compliance with all policies
• Data Accuracy: Maintain accurate registration data
• Abuse Response: Respond promptly to abuse reports
• Payment Terms: Meet payment obligations and terms

8.3 Registrar and Reseller Benefits

• Wholesale pricing discounts up to 50% for qualified registrars and resellers
• No ICANN accreditation requirement
• Full API and EPP access
• White-label solutions available
• Priority technical support
• Marketing cooperation opportunities

9. API Usage Guidelines

Rules for using Unregistry APIs and technical services:

9.1 Rate Limits

API Type	Rate Limit	Burst Allowance
Public API	1,000 requests/hour	100 requests/minute
Registrar API	10,000 requests/hour	500 requests/minute
EPP Interface	5,000 commands/hour	200 commands/minute
WHOIS Queries	10,000 queries/day	60 queries/minute

9.2 Authentication and Security

• API key authentication required for all requests
• HTTPS/TLS encryption mandatory
• IP whitelisting available for enhanced security
• Regular key rotation recommended
• Monitoring for suspicious API usage patterns

9.3 Usage Restrictions

• No automated bulk WHOIS harvesting
• No API abuse or excessive usage
• No resale of API access without authorization
• Compliance with data protection requirements
• Proper error handling and retry logic

13. Suspension and Termination

Circumstances and procedures for account and domain suspension:

13.1 Grounds for Suspension

• Violation of acceptable use policy
• Non-payment of fees
• WHOIS inaccuracy or non-responsiveness
• Domain abuse or illegal activity
• Court orders or legal requirements
• Registry policy violations

13.2 Suspension Process

• Warning: Initial notice with opportunity to cure (when appropriate)
• Investigation: Review of reported violations
• Notification: Formal notice of suspension with reasons
• Suspension: Domain placed in suspended status
• Resolution: Opportunity to address violations

13.3 Termination Procedures

• 30-day notice for non-payment (unless emergency)
• Immediate termination for severe violations
• Domain deletion after appropriate grace periods
• Data retention per legal requirements
• Refund policies applied as appropriate

16. Appeals Process

Process for challenging enforcement actions:

16.1 Appeal Grounds

• Factual errors in investigation
• Procedural violations
• Disproportionate enforcement action
• New evidence or circumstances
• Compliance achievement during appeal

16.2 Appeal Procedure

• Submission: Written appeal within 30 days
• Documentation: Supporting evidence and arguments
• Review: Independent review by appeals committee
• Decision: Written decision within 30 days
• Implementation: Prompt implementation of appeal decision

16.3 External Arbitration

For disputes not resolved through our appeals process, parties may pursue binding arbitration through recognized dispute resolution providers.