Restricted Domain Names

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Restricted Domain Names

Exploring Prohibited Domains: The Restrictions on Domain Name Registration

Domain names act as the digital addresses that guide users to websites and online resources. These unique identifiers play a crucial role in establishing an online presence, reflecting brands, ideas, and individuals. However, not all domain names are up for grabs. A subset of these names is deemed prohibited and restricted from registration due to various reasons ranging from legal concerns to ethical considerations.

Understanding Prohibited Domains:

Prohibited domains, also known as restricted or reserved domains, are those that are off-limits for public registration. These domain names are withheld from registration due to specific rules and regulations set by domain name authorities, government bodies, and international agreements. The reasons for prohibition can be categorized into legal, ethical, cultural, and technical concerns.

Legal Restrictions:

Certain domain names are prohibited due to legal implications. These names might involve trademarks, copyrighted material, or names that infringe upon intellectual property rights. Registering domain names that closely resemble well-known brands or copyrighted phrases can lead to legal disputes, as they could be seen as an attempt to mislead or profit from the reputation of established entities.

Ethical and Cultural Considerations:

Many domain names are prohibited to prevent offensive, obscene, or harmful content from being disseminated online. This includes names that contain hate speech, racial slurs, explicit content, or any material that goes against societal norms and values. Ethical considerations also extend to domain names that could potentially deceive users by impersonating legitimate institutions or organizations.

Geopolitical and National Restrictions:

Certain countries maintain strict controls over domain names that incorporate their official country codes. For instance, domain names ending with “.gov” are typically reserved for government entities, while those ending with “.edu” are often limited to educational institutions within the United States. This ensures that domain names accurately reflect the nature of the organizations they represent.

Technical Limitations:

Some domain names are prohibited due to technical reasons. These names might conflict with top-level domain (TLD) categories, reserved keywords, or the domain name system’s structure. These restrictions help maintain the stability and functionality of the internet infrastructure.

Examples of Prohibited Domains:

1. Trademarks and Copyrights: Registering domain names that infringe upon well-known trademarks or copyrighted material is generally prohibited. This prevents cyber-squatting and protects the intellectual property rights of legitimate owners.
2. Adult Content: Domain names containing explicit or adult content are often prohibited to ensure a safer online environment for users of all ages.
3. Hate Speech: Names promoting hate speech, racism, and discrimination are restricted to curb the spread of harmful ideologies and maintain a respectful online space.
4. Impersonation: Domain names that impersonate official organizations or individuals can be prohibited to prevent scams and fraudulent activities.
5. Geopolitical Restrictions: Some country-code domains are restricted to entities within specific countries to maintain the authenticity and integrity of national online identities.

Enforcement and Consequences:

Domain name registrars and authorities actively monitor and enforce restrictions on prohibited domains. Violating these restrictions can result in legal action, domain suspension, or even loss of online credibility. Moreover, search engines and web browsers often flag websites with prohibited content, limiting their visibility and reach.

Listed of Restricted Keyword Domain Names

While the exact list of restricted keyword domain names can vary based on different domain registries and regulations, here are some general categories of restricted keywords that are commonly not allowed for domain name registration:

1. Trademarks and Brands: Any domain name that infringes on a registered trademark or brand name is typically restricted. This includes names that are identical or very similar to well-known brands. (An example Bookings.com is trademarked so you would not be able to register www.hotelbookings+ext).
2. Adult Content: Words or phrases that are explicit, suggestive, or related to adult content are often restricted to maintain a safe online environment. (self-explanatory).
3. Hate Speech and Offensive Language: Domain names that contain hate speech, offensive slurs, or discriminatory language are generally restricted to prevent the spread of harmful ideologies.
4. Illegal Activities: Keywords related to illegal activities, such as drug trafficking, hacking, or other criminal endeavors, are often restricted to prevent the promotion of unlawful behavior.
5. Impersonation: Domain names that impersonate well-known organizations, government agencies, or individuals are usually restricted to prevent scams and fraud.
6. Sensitive Topics: Keywords related to sensitive topics like terrorism, violence, or other controversial subjects might be restricted to prevent the spread of extremist ideologies.
7. Geographical and Government Terms: Some domain extensions (TLDs) have restrictions on using names related to governments or geographical locations without proper authorization.
8. Phishing and Fraud: Keywords that are commonly associated with phishing attempts or fraudulent activities might be restricted to protect users from deceptive websites.
9. Misleading Information: Domain names that contain false or misleading information, such as fake news sites, might be restricted to maintain online credibility.
10. Medical and Health Claims: Some domain names that make false or unverified claims about medical treatments, cures, or health benefits might be restricted to protect public health. (The word Cov#d is prohibited).
11. Financial Scams: Keywords related to financial scams, pyramid schemes, or get-rich-quick schemes are often restricted to prevent financial harm to users.
12. Educational and Governmental Designations: Certain TLDs have restrictions on domain names that suggest educational or governmental affiliations without proper authorization.
13. Profanity: Domain names containing profane or vulgar language are typically restricted to maintain a professional online environment.
14. Copyrighted Material: Keywords that are associated with copyrighted material, such as movie titles, book names, or song lyrics, might be restricted to protect intellectual property rights.
15. Sovereign Names: An example of this was when Iceland.co.uk (Grocery Store got into a dispute with Iceland the country). Iceland launches legal challenge over supermarket name – BBC News (a country+ext cannot be registered but a town, or city can, furthermore you can register country+keyword+ext).

It’s important to note that the specific restrictions and guidelines can vary depending on the domain extension (TLD) you’re interested in and the policies of the domain registrar you’re using. It’s recommended to review the terms and conditions of the domain registrar and the relevant domain registry before attempting to register a domain name.

There are no specific domain name guidelines regarding domain restrictions just general information. There is no definitive list of which domains are prohibited and which ones are not.

Is ‘Cymru Bank’ a restricted domain name?

“Cymru bank” does not appear to be a commonly recognized restricted keyword for domain name registration. (This is from doing research and I could not find a definitive list of banned domain names).

“Cymru” is the Welsh word for “Wales,” so a domain name like “Cymru Bank” could potentially be related to a bank in Wales or have other regional significance. When considering such domain names, it’s a good idea to research the specific TLD you’re interested in (such as “.com,” “.co.uk,” “.wales,” etc.) to understand if there are any restrictions or guidelines related to the use of names that could potentially imply affiliations with financial institutions or geographic regions.

“In our defense, there is no inclination that these keywords are restricted”

Furthermore, there is a famous Domain Investor called ‘Mike Mann’ who has a large portfolio of Bank domain names that he is selling, review his list here: DomainMarket.com I always follow his lead, and if the word bank was prohibited not only would we not be brokering www.bank.com but Mike would not have been able to register all those domains. So it will be interesting what BS excuse IONOS comes up with.

Always check with the domain registrar or registry associated with the TLD you’re interested in to ensure that the domain name you’re considering does not violate any restrictions or policies. It’s also possible that there have been updates or changes since my last knowledge update.

Registering Domain Name

Prohibited domains play a critical role in maintaining a safe, lawful, and ethical online environment. By restricting certain domain names from registration, authorities and organizations work to prevent misuse, protect intellectual property, and uphold the values of the digital realm. As the internet continues to evolve, the regulation of domain names remains an essential aspect of ensuring a positive online experience for users worldwide.

I start off by saying I own the website that has the keyword “Cymru” (country+keyword+ext) in the domain www.cymrumarketing.com and the domain(s) www.cymrumarketing.co.uk and www.cymrujournal.co.uk and www.cymrujournal.com and have multiple business directories related to different industries and services on this site, including banking and law. We do most of our marketing and advertising via this hub and are planning on expanding our services further.

Whenever a domain name is dropped we try to make use of it if our customers do not want them any longer.

We usually forward the domains to our marketing pages if we have no plans to develop them. In most cases, we use domain names for our marketing campaigns. On occasion, we may hand-register domains for our digital marketing strategies, just like we tried to do this instance with the www.cymrubank.co.uk and www.cymrubank.com

We also have a collection of banking directories:

• UK Business Banking Directory – CYMRU MARKETING JOURNAL
• Cymru Bank Directory (Banks In Wales- Coming Soon)
• Directory Banks Incorporated In the UK
• Directory Of Building Societies
• Directory Of Retail High St Banks
• Directory Of UK Challenger Banks
• Directory of Direct Debit Payment Collection Companies
• Directory of Merchant Providers and Card Payment Services
• Directory of Venture Capital Firms
• Directory of UK Digital Banks
• Directory of Investment Banks
• Directory of Investment Management Companies
• Directory Of Private Equity Firms
• Directory of UK Business Banking Disclaimer
• Banking News

We are also affiliated to the following two banks.

Domain Brokering

Both Michael Dooner and I are also jointly brokering the domain name www.bank.com

Security Threat

My concerns arose last week when I received two suspicious emails. I tried to contact complaints@ionos.co.uk and am still waiting for a reply. I sent them the email source code and nada, not a peep.

Upon having a conversation on Monday 28th August 2023 with a call handler, appertaining to my account being hacked she said I should have sent my email to security last week.

There is no list of email addresses to contact IONOS and how was I supposed to know what email to use? According to them they no longer monitor the email support@ionos.co.uk

The email for security is: hosting-security@ionos.co.uk

The point is that I attempted to register www.cymrubank.co.uk and www.cymrubank.com as I was planning on having a databank of stock images for the Cymru Marketing Journal (CMJUK) and a Banking Directory of Welsh Banks on my site, hence registered both the domain names.

All seemed well on Friday when I registered them but I noticed that normally the contracts immediately become available to use but for some reason, I could not see them on my dashboard.

I then phoned the registrar/hosting provider the following day (Saturday) and was told that the domains were under security review and that I had to wait 48 hours from the time of registering. The time came and went and I phoned them again on late Sunday evening giving them plenty of time to sort out the problem. I was told to wait another 24 hours.

Hacked Account

Now this bit becomes crazier I then received one alarming email referencing my account on Monday 28th August 2023 had been hacked and I was locked out for security reasons. I then received a further two emails three minutes later one for each domain name to say my order had been rejected, even though they took the money out on Friday and the payment was pending (£1.20 per domain as I ordered a Mail Basic 5 package). The money was not the problem as in total it came to £2.40 for the first month for 12 months.

I proceeded to try and log in to my control panel and low and behold I was indeed locked out.

My immediate thoughts were to move my money out of my bank account which was associated with this hosting provider before proceeding to phone them, the email said there was a problem with my payment method and later stated over the phone the domains were restricted because of security and for me to reset my password.

“If the domains were restricted they should NOT be available for registration, it is as simple as that, no ifs or buts”.

There is no definitive list of words (perhaps this is my calling) other than sovereign names. An example of this is country name + domain extension and trademarks that cannot be registered other than some words that get censored by search engines and are deemed offensive and referenced in the articles below:

• Public attitudes towards offensive language on TV and Radio: Quick Reference Guide (ofcom.org.uk)
• Full List of Bad Words and Swear Words Banned by Google (freewebheaders.com)

My Security concerns have been long going as I told the agent how could the entities that sent me the information by email last week know the names of the customers on the e-commerce stores without hacking the site. I was told I had to relay the message to their security department and not the complaints team.

I told them that they should not be doing business with Russia as they do not like the US or the UK and the Agent on Monday was adamant that they do not do business with Russia even though I have evidence that they do: https://ukdomainbrokers.ukwebsitedesigners.co.uk/ionos-ecwid-ecommerce-russian-app/ The agent was full on arguing with me that I did not know what I was talking about. I have even had one of the executives in IONOS admit that everything I am saying is correct, but there was nothing they could do.

“IONOS uses an e-commerce 3rd party app that they have white-labeled as their own but is in actual fact is supplied by ECWID which is a Russian App”.

To think IONOS are trying to pass the buck is beyond unreal. I have the latest Antivirus on all my devices and Wordfece on all my websites and it seems a bit of a coincidence that 3 minutes after I was hacked I had two rejection emails saying there was a problem with my payment for www.cymrubank.com and www.cymrubank.co.uk, in which I immediately moved all my money out of my account.

I get invoiced in bulk once a month so there would not have been a problem until IONOS tried to take my money out after the 15th of each month.

I think it is high tide I warn people not to buy restricted words but also to be careful of trademark words.

…and perhaps start looking for another hosting provider, because even as I finish writing this post, I still note that the two domains in question are available for registration, if the same shenanigans continue it may be that they do not value my business (all 91 contracts) or do not want to continue doing any more business with me.

Do I need the domain names not really as I can simply create sub-directories to the tail end of my URL?

It is the security aspect I am the most upset about and how this ruined my bank holiday, instead of spending quality time with my family I had to sort this sh#t out, which prompted me to write this article (yes the word sh#t is a censored word).

IONOS Contact Emails Are As Follows:

• complaints@ionos.co.uk
• billing@ionos.co.uk
• hosting-security@ionos.co.uk

My Final Words As I Sign Off

You are more than welcome to try and register the domains, but I have resigned to the fact I do not want them any longer. If you encounter similar problems, leave your comments below. I will be reaching out to the security team before sharing this article on social media for their response.

It seems highly suspicious that the domains are still available and it makes me wonder why this has happened and do they value my business.

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