22.04.2009

Inappropriate marketing of domain names targeted at fi-domain name holders - FICORA counsels caution

Many customers have contacted the Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority (FICORA) regarding companies that do telemarketing for Finnish companies, associations or other organizations. Examples of these telemarketing products are domain names under the roots .com and .eu featuring the business names of the targets of marketing.

In these cases, the company marketing domain names tells the customer that somebody is trying to register the domain name is question. If the customer makes fast decisions, it is possible to get the domain names registered for himself or herself. The prices are often manifold compared to the normal price level. In addition, the services included in the price are limited. Telemarketing is often felt as aggressive and in many cases downright misleading as the caller gives an impression that she or he is representing an authority.

If the target of marketing does not accept the offer, the domain name is not necessarily registered for any party. FICORA has also been informed that unpleasant content, such as adult entertainment, has been added to the marketed website. On the internet, whois services such as Allwhois and Internic provide a channel for checking eventual domain name registrations.

FICORA administers the fi-country code only and monitors the Act on Domain Names. It has no powers to intervene in the marketing or registrations of e.g. domain names ending with .com or .eu. The American VeriSign Inc. administers domain names ending with .com.

It is out of the question that FICORA would ever market domain names by telephone.

Instructions for targets of inappropriate marketing are available at the website of fi-domain name service.