The domain was approved by the European Commission in March 2002
and will be operated by the European Registry of Internet
Domainnames (EURid). The domain is not yet live and no registrars
have been accredited as sellers.
A major obstacle has been the failure of the Commission and
Member States to agree public policy rules. But these were finally
published on 30th April.
The registry is now able to progress to the next stage, which is
to agree a contract with the Commission and to sign an agreement
with the body with responsibility for managing the internet's
system of domain names, ICANN (the Internet Corporation for
Assigned Names and Numbers). ICANN then has to make the appropriate
technical changes to allow the .eu domain to work.
In the light of this, EURid has amended its timetable for the
launch of the domain.
The plan is that during May and June the Registry will be
preparing and amending its systems, contracts, rules and procedures
to reflect the agreed public policy rules. In June and July, EURid
hopes to begin to accredit registrars. Then, between December 2004
and April 2005, a sunrise period will operate.
Sunrise is a common phase for new domain name roll-outs that
lets owners of trade marks secure their rights before the names go
on a first-come, first-served basis after the domain launch. During
this period applicants will have forty days to provide proof of
their existing rights. If they cannot comply, the names will be
released for others to register.
The sunrise period will be offered in two phases, of two months
each. Phase one will cater for registered Community or national
trade mark holders, the names of public bodies and geographical
indications.
These names may also be registered during Phase two, along with
names based on other 'prior rights', i.e. names recognised under
Community or national law. These include, according to the
Commission's public policy rules, "unregistered trade marks, trade
names, business identifiers, company names, family names, and
distinctive titles of protected literary and artistic works."
EURid anticipates that open registration will start in April
2005.
