29.08.2005

Letters å, ä and ö possible in fi-domain names as of 1 September 2005

At the beginning of September, it will become possible for companies and organisations to also apply for fi-domain names containing the letters å, ä and ö (also called as Internationalized Domain Names, or IDNs) because the Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority (FICORA) will introduce these native language characters in fi-domain names as of 1 September 2005, at 8:00 a.m.

Companies and organisations now have the opportunity to apply for a domain name represented by the letters å, ä or ö (e.g. a word describing the name, product, service or activities of the company). Due to technical restrictions, we do not recommend that an IDN is used as a primary domain name. All browser and email programs do not yet support domain names that contain the letters å, ä or ö. Neither do all foreign keyboards necessarily have these letters.

The former fi-domain names and their functionalities (e.g. email addresses) will remain the same. The former domain name (without the letters å, ä or ö) does not automatically give the domain name holder the right to a corresponding domain name represented by the letters å, ä or ö (e.g. aaneton.fi / äänetön.fi). There is no need to make changes unless there is a need for an IDN.

Domain names containing the letters å, ä or ö cannot be reserved beforehand, but all domain names are granted in time order so that the first one who has applied is served first. It is not allowed to apply for a domain name that is based on a protected name or trademark owned by another party.

You can turn to your Internet service provider or directly to FICORA's fi-domain name service, https://domain.ficora.fi when you want to apply for a domain name. You have to register as a user to be able to use the service.

Further information:
Mr Juhani Juselius, Head of Domain Name Services, tel. +358 9 6966 743, +358 40 730 6776 or
Mr Hannu Gyldén, legal counsel tel. +358 9 6966 464