Monday

25th Sep 2023

Thousands of .eu domain names abused

The European internet domain name authority, EURid, has suspended 74,000 .eu domain names and taken legal action against 400 registrars for abusing the service.

The move comes after a syndicate of registrars systematically acquired domain names with the intent of reselling them at a higher price – an act called warehousing.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

  • EURid sold its 2 millionth .eu domain in just three months (Photo: EURid)

"Since registrars should only register domain names for existing customers and not 'warehouse' the names in order to resell them at a higher price, this is clearly in breach of the registrar contract," said Herman Sobrie from Belgium-based EURid in a statement.

The legal action came after a review of the system for .eu domains revealed a small number of companies had registered several hundred phantom companies in order to manipulate the system and allow them additional opportunities to grab names.

The non-profit EURid company feared that an abuse of the .eu name might lower the value of the European domain.

"When the system is abused there is a risk that the perceived value of .eu will decrease, not only for the almost 2 million legitimate holders of .eu domain names but also for all honest registrars," EURid said in a statement.

Court proceedings are set to begin at a Brussels court in October.

The 74,000 names have been put on hold and EURid hopes to make them available for registration again by the end of the year.

Addresses include "hallo.eu" and "rap.eu", according to German daily Die Welt.

EURid pointed out it will continue to investigate reports of fraudulent registrars.

It has already suspended a handful of other domains because the owner was unable to prove they lived within the EU.

The .eu top-level domain has been an unexpected success with EURid announcing earlier this month that it had sold its 2 millionth .eu domain in just three months.

More than 10,000 .eu domain names suspended

The European internet domain name authority, EURid, has suspended around 10,000 .eu domain names registered by a single owner, saying it doubts the owner is an EU resident – a legal pre-requisite for registration of a .eu domain name.

Agenda

China trade tension and migration deal This WEEK

An EU-China high-level economic is scheduled on Monday amid renewed tensions. Later this week, EU home affairs ministers will discuss the EU-Tunisia deal and the state of play of the EU pact on asylum and migration.

Agenda

China trade tension and migration deal This WEEK

An EU-China high-level economic is scheduled on Monday amid renewed tensions. Later this week, EU home affairs ministers will discuss the EU-Tunisia deal and the state of play of the EU pact on asylum and migration.

Latest News

  1. EU trade chief in Beijing warns China of only 'two paths' forward
  2. Why should taxpayers pay for private fishing fleets in third countries?
  3. Women at risk from shoddy EU laws on domestic workers
  4. EU poised to agree on weakened emission rules
  5. China trade tension and migration deal This WEEK
  6. Europe's energy strategy: A tale of competing priorities
  7. Why Greek state workers are protesting new labour law
  8. Gloves off, as Polish ruling party fights for power

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators, industry & healthcare experts at the 24th IMDRF session, September 25-26, Berlin. Register by 20 Sept to join in person or online.
  2. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  3. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA
  4. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators & industry experts at the 24th IMDRF session- Berlin September 25-26. Register early for discounted hotel rates
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersGlobal interest in the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations – here are the speakers for the launch
  6. Nordic Council of Ministers20 June: Launch of the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us