Information for service providers

Domain Name Act

The availability of Finnish domain names (country code fi) improved and their registration became easier when the Domain Name Act (228/2003) entered into force. With the entry into force of an amendment to this Act on 1 March 2006, even private persons can apply for fi-domain names. The Domain Name Act incorporates provisions on the application for a domain name, the form and contents of the name and the responsibilities and obligations of the holder of a domain name and an Internet service provider. The whole text of the Domain Name Act and preambles are available in the internet.

Who is an internet domain name service provider?

According to the Domain Name Act, domain name service means service that involves delivering a domain name application to the Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority (FICORA) and adjusting the domain name system as required for the use of a domain name. Domain name services are produced by internet service providers both in Finland and abroad. The internet service provider referred to in the Act can also be a private person.

Enrolment as an internet service provider

According to the domain Name Act, an internet service provider delivering fi-domain names and offering relevant name services shall submit a notification to FICORA before starting operations. The notification shall include the service provider's contact information and an account of the quality and scope of operations.

The notification is made electronically in FICORA's fi-domain name service. With the enrolment the internet service provider creates itself a username and orders a list of passwords which are needed in dealing with the fi-domain name service.

Obligations of an internet service provider

According to the Domain Name Act, an internet service provider shall ensure that the name services for a fi-domain name are functional. In addition, an internet service provider shall attend to the updating of the data on name servers and the contact information and comply with the regulations issued by FICORA. If an internet service provider repeatedly or essentially violates the obligations set by law, FICORA may forbid it to deliver domain name applications for a maximum period of one year. FICORA keeps a public list of domain name service providers that have been prohibited to deliver applications.

FICORA's fi-domain name service

Applications for a fi-domain name are made and paid for through FICORA's fi-domain name service. The applicant can make it him/herself or through a service provider authorised by the applicant. In addition to the name of the undertaking or private person, business ID number/register number or personal ID number and contact information, comprehensive data on the name servers configured for the domain name shall be indicated in the application form.

Service providers delivering applications for fi-domain names may use, besides the www user interface of the fi-domain name service, a transfer interface in XML file format.

Example 1 [xml, 3 KB]

Example 2 [xml, 3 KB]

Skema [xsd, 9 KB]

Filedescription [DOC, 201 KB]

The Web Service interface of the FICORA domain name system intended for service providers

Web Service functionality - service description [PDF, 171 KB]

Web service demo client [ZIP, 121 KB]

A fi-domain name is granted for a fixed period

According to the Domain Name Act, a fi-domain name is granted for a maximum period of three years and it can be renewed by paying a renewal fee prior to the end of the validity. Consequently, a domain name can be in force for an unlimited period, if it is always renewed before the expiry date. FICORA sends, by letter and by e-mail, a reminder for the renewal of a domain name.

Payment of a fi-domain name

The registration fee for a fi-domain name shall be paid in FICORA's fi-domain name service during the application process either by credit card or through internet banking. The application will not become pending before the payment is made. With the introduction of the fi-domain name service, FICORA totally gave up invoicing for domain name fees. Annual maintenance fees are no longer charged, but payment for a domain name is to be made for the entire period of validity at a time. The validity can be extended by paying a renewal fee. The domain name fee and the renewal fee are always paid by the customer using the fi-domain name service - also in case the customer is a service provider authorised by its own customer. The service provider can make the payment for its customers' domain names for instance by a credit card (VISA, MasterCard or EuroCard) acquired for this purpose.

Provisions on fees collected for domain names are laid down in Decree 1112/2006 of the Ministry of Transport and Communications. After the removal of annual maintenance fee, the structure of the domain name fee has been changed so that a separate fee, which is based on the costs incurred to FICORA, is collected for certificates.

Authorisation key for a fi-domain name

A key of authorisation for a fi-domain name is a code by means of which the holder of a domain name can administer its own domain name in FICORA's fi-domain name service. The key is sent to the holder in connection with the granting of the domain name.

The holder of a fi-domain name can authorise a service provider to make changes in the domain name or the information under it by delivering the authorisation key to the service provider. By means of the key, the service provider may for instance change the name server data or update the domain name holder's contact information.

The key of authorisation can be replaced by another one, if, for instance, the holder of a domain name wants to change the service provider.

Digits allowed in a fi-domain name and technical requirements

A fi-domain name may consist of 2 - 63 characters. It may be composed of letters a - z, digits 0 - 9 and a hyphen. As of 1 September 2005 it has also been possible to use the characters å, ä and ö in a fi-domain name. A domain name cannot begin or end with a hyphen. The third and fourth character of a domain name cannot both be hyphens.

With the new Act on Domain Names, the correct configuration of name servers becomes increasingly important. According to the Act, the application for a fi-domain name expires, if, in compliance with FICORA's regulation, name servers have not been configured for the domain name within 1 month from the application. The applicant then loses his/her right to the domain name. The fee paid for the application is not refunded. The risk of expiry highlights the service provider's responsibility for functional name servers.

At least two name servers shall always be configured for a fi-domain name. There can also be more than two name servers, but ten is the maximum. According to the Regulation, each notified name server must be functional. If one or several of the name servers for a new domain name do not pass the verification test within the time stipulated (1 month), the application expires and the applicant loses the domain name. The fee is not refunded.

Restrictions on fi-domain names

Primarily, the applicant can freely choose a fi-domain name and for instance any connection to the applicant's business or activity is no longer required. Some restrictions regarding the form and contents of the name are, however, prescribed by law. Before a domain name is granted, the applications are mechanically checked by FICORA's on-line fi-domain name service so that only part of illegal registrations is prevented. The applicant is responsible for the compliance with other restrictions.

A fi-domain name shall not be illegally based on another party's protected name or trademark or a natural person's name. The protected names referred to in law mean names entered into the Finnish trade, association or foundation registers or the marks in the Finnish or EC trademark register. Respectively, the names of public bodies and established names and marks referred to in the Business Names and Trademark Act are protected. A natural person's name is a person name composed of a first name and a family name in accordance with the Name Act.

An undertaking may not apply for a domain name consisting of a person's first name and family name (e.g. maijavirtanen.fi or virtanenmaija.fi), unless the name has, exactly in the same form, been registered as a business name or trademark. The register number of the name or mark must be indicated in the application for a fi-domain name. A natural person may apply for a domain name composed of a person's first name and family name only if it is the applicant's official name.

A domain name shall not include expressions that are insulting or incite to criminal activity. Neither shall domain names be applied for with the purpose of redelivery.

A domain name cannot be a word or abbreviation indicating the form of an undertaking (such as Ltd/Limited, Oy/Osakeyhtiö), the word trademark or global or country codes (such as com, net, org, fi or dk).

An illegal fi-domain name can be terminated or revoked by FICORA.

An intermediary's responsibility for the legality of a fi-domain name

FICORA's automated fi-domain name service is for instance not capable of verifying if a domain name applied for violates another party's registered business name or trade mark. The applicant is responsible for making the necessary searches him/herself.

FICORA's fi-domain name service informs the applicant of effective restrictions and guides the applicant to the necessary searches before the application is made. It is easy to browse the registered names and trademarks effective in Finland in the internet free of charge. FICORA's fi-domain name service provides links to the registrars' websites. The service also reminds the users of the sanctions for neglecting the searches.

If the application for a fi-domain name is submitted to FICORA through the internet service provider's systems, the customer applying for a domain name does not him/herself use FICORA's fi-domain name service at all. In such a case the customer is not necessarily aware of the requirements set for a fi-domain name or the sanctions for a violation.

When applying for a domain name on behalf of its customer, the internet service provider acts as the customer's legal representative. FICORA's fi-domain name service always asks for the user's confirmation that the necessary searches have been made before the application for a domain name. If the service is used by a service provider under the authorisation of the applicant, the service provider is also responsible for making the searches and the confirmation. This also applies to cases where the service provider submits the applications to FICORA through a file format interface.

FICORA has the right to revoke a fi-domain that has been registered in non-compliance with the Domain Name Act. According to the Act, the sanctions are directed to the holder of the fi-domain name only. The internet service provider may, however, be contractually responsible to its own customer for a negligence committed under authorisation. The service provider offers professional registration services for domain names. The customer is then entitled to expect that the service provider is familiar with the domain name legislation and ensures that the customer does not incur any risk of losing the domain name later on.

Besides the risk of losing the fi-domain name, the registration of a domain name violating another party's business name or trademark may have other consequences by virtue of the Business Name Act and the Trademark Act. These sanctions may also concern the service provider acting under authorisation of the applicant.

FICORA recommends that the internet service provider verify for the customer that the fi-domain name applied for does violate not another party's protected name or mark. The omission of the searches should only be based on a customer's distinct confirmation that the necessary verifications have been made by him/herself. The customer shall also assure that the service provider has informed the customer of the consequences of violation. FICORA's opinion is that a standard term of contract cannot be regarded as such a distinct confirmation.

Contact information is important

All notices, communications and decisions are sent to the e-mail and postal addresses indicated in the application. If the contact information is out-of-date or incorrect, the holder's right to the fi-domain name may be endangered. The given e-mail address is used when hearing the holder of the domain name and asking him or her for a clarification in case of termination or revocation of a domain name.

Giving intentionally false information to an authority's register is a crime, for which a person can be condemned to fines or even to imprisonment for up to three years.

The contact information is entered into FICORA's domain name register and into the customer register of the fi-domain name service. Information on the domain name register is given via the internet. Further information on the registers and data delivered from the domain name register is available in the item File descriptions.

Make it a rule to verify that your contact information is up-to-date and make the necessary changes direct to the fi-domain name service.

In addition to the contact information on the holder of a fi-domain name, the updating of the technical contact information on the domain name is also important. If the name servers configured for a domain name do not meet the requirements of FICORA's regulation, a notice of the defect is sent by e-mail to the address given in the technical contact information on the domain name. If the name servers for a new domain name are not brought into working order within the time stipulated, the application for the domain name expires and the applicant loses the right to the name.