Domain Registration Policy
Effective Date: May, 2025
This Domain Registration Policy is an integral part of the SmartHost Terms and Conditions of Service (“T&Cs”) and should be read in conjunction with our Billing Policy, Privacy Policy, and Acceptable Use Policy (AUP). This policy outlines the terms, responsibilities, and procedures governing domain name registration, renewal, and transfer through SmartHost.
By registering or managing a domain name through SmartHost, you (“Customer,” “Registrant,” “You”) agree to be bound by this policy, in addition to the policies of the relevant domain name registries and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
1. Definitions
- ICANN: The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, responsible for coordinating the maintenance and procedures of several databases related to the namespaces of the Internet.
- IEDR: The official registry for the .ie country code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD), trading as WeAre.ie.
- Registry: The organisation responsible for maintaining the master database of domain names for a specific TLD.
- Registrar: An organisation accredited by a Registry or ICANN to manage the reservation and registration of domain names. SmartHost is an authorised IEDR Registrar and acts as a reseller for other TLDs through an upstream ICANN-accredited registrar partner.
- Registrant: The individual or entity holding the right to use a domain name for a specified period.
- WHOIS: A public directory service providing information about a domain name, including registrant contact details.
- TLD: Top-Level Domain, the segment of a domain name following the final dot (e.g., .com, .ie).
- gTLD: Generic Top-Level Domain (e.g., .com, .net).
- ccTLD: Country-code Top-Level Domain (e.g., .ie, .uk).
- Dispute Policy: A formal policy for resolving domain disputes, such as the UDRP or the IEDR Dispute Resolution Policy.
2. Registrant Obligations
By registering a domain through SmartHost, you agree to:
- Provide Accurate Information: Submit true, current, and complete information for your domain registration and the public WHOIS database, and update it promptly should it change. Failure to do so may result in the suspension or cancellation of your domain.
- Comply with Applicable Policies: Abide by all rules from ICANN and the relevant registries. It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with ICANN’s Registrant Rights and Responsibilities.
- Use Domains Lawfully: Avoid using your domain for any unlawful purpose, including but not limited to intellectual property infringement, phishing, spam, or malware distribution. Compliance with the SmartHost AUP is mandatory.
- Accept Responsibility for Licensed Use: If you license a domain name to a third party, you remain the Registrant of record and bear full responsibility for its use and any potential misuse.
3. WHOIS Information and Data Protection
- Public WHOIS Record: ICANN and Registry policies mandate that certain Registrant information be made publicly available via the WHOIS service.
- Data Processing and Consent: You consent to SmartHost processing and sharing your data with third parties (such as registries, ICANN, and our upstream partners) as necessary for the provision of domain registration and management services. Please see our Privacy Policy for full details on how we handle your data.
- GDPR Considerations: For natural persons residing within the EEA, certain personal data in the public WHOIS output may be redacted. However, this does not prevent disclosure of your full data to authorised parties (such as law enforcement or parties in a dispute) under applicable laws and policies.
- Annual WHOIS Reminder: In compliance with ICANN’s WHOIS Data Reminder Policy (WDRP), SmartHost will send an annual reminder to the primary registrant email address on file, reminding you of your obligation to ensure its accuracy.
4. Domain Lifecycle Management
As stated in our Billing Policy, domain registrations are bespoke purchases and are non-refundable.
- Registration: Processed on a “first-come, first-served” basis and subject to availability and acceptance by the relevant Registry. Successful payment does not guarantee a successful registration.
- Renewal: You are solely responsible for renewing your domains before their expiry date. As a courtesy, SmartHost will send reminder emails. Failure to renew results in service deactivation.
- gTLD Lifecycle (governed by ICANN’s ERRP):
- Post-Expiry (0–45 days): The domain is deactivated and may be pointed to a parking page. It is typically renewable at the standard fee during this “Renewal Grace Period.”
- Redemption Grace Period (RGP) (Approx. 30 days): If not renewed, the domain may enter RGP, where recovery is possible but incurs a significant redemption fee in addition to the renewal fee.
- Pending Deletion (Approx. 5 days): The domain is irrecoverable and will be deleted and released for public registration.
- .IE Lifecycle (governed by IEDR Policies):
- Expiry and Deactivation: If not renewed, the domain is deactivated. SmartHost may request its deletion from the registry.
- Restoration Period (30 days): Following a deletion request, the domain can be restored by paying the standard renewal fee.
- Deletion: If not restored, the domain is fully deleted approximately 35 days after the initial deletion request.
5. Domain Transfers
- gTLD Transfers (governed by ICANN’s IRTP):
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- Domains may be locked against unauthorised transfer (“Registrar Lock”). This must be disabled by you before initiating a transfer.
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- An EPP/Authorisation Code is required to transfer a domain and can be retrieved via your control panel.
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- A 60-day transfer lock applies after initial registration, a previous transfer, or a change of registrant contact information.
- .IE Transfers:
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- Governed by IEDR policy. Requires a domain authorisation code and is initiated by the gaining registrar.
6. Dispute Resolution
By registering a domain, you agree to be bound by the applicable dispute resolution policies. SmartHost may lock, suspend, or cancel domains upon notice of a dispute or a valid court order. SmartHost is not a party to domain ownership disputes and does not mediate; we act based on the outcomes of these policies or legal orders.
- UDRP (gTLDs): You agree to submit to ICANN’s mandatory Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy for resolving disputes, including those related to trademark infringement.
- IEDRP (.IE Domains): You agree to submit to the .IE Dispute Resolution Policy, which is typically administered by WIPO.
- Other ccTLDs: You agree to the policies of other registries, including:
- .UK: Nominet’s Dispute Resolution Service (DRS).
- .EU: EURid’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) procedure.
7. Abuse Complaints and Law Enforcement Requests
SmartHost reserves the right to suspend or cancel domains without prior notice if required by a court order, law enforcement, or upon detection of abuse that violates our AUP. Prohibited activities include but are not limited to:
- Malware or virus distribution
- Phishing or other fraudulent activities
- Operating botnets
- Infringement of third-party intellectual property rights
- Distribution of illegal content
Abuse reports may be submitted to the dedicated address: abuse@smarthost.ie.
8. Specific Registry Requirements
- .IE Domains: All registrations are subject to IEDR policy. Registrants must demonstrate a substantive connection to Ireland and may need to provide documentation. By registering, you agree to the IEDR’s Registrant T&Cs.
- Other TLDs: All other registrations are governed by the policies of their respective registries. By registering, you agree to their terms, including:
9. Amendments to This Policy
SmartHost may update this policy to reflect changes in law, ICANN/Registry requirements, or our business operations. We will provide 15–30 days’ notice of material changes by email or via a prominent notice on our website. Your continued use of services after such notice constitutes your acceptance of the changes.
10. Contact Us
- Email: support@smarthost.ie
- Phone: +353 (0)1 901 9700
- Website: https://www.smarthost.ie
