domain names ":.mc" Naming Charter defining the rules for allocation, registration, management and maintenance (Ministerial Order no. 2022-38 of 21 January 2022)

Ministerial Order no. 2022-38 of 21 January 2022 (Journal de Monaco no. 8575 of 28 January 2022) implements article 20 of Law no. 1.383 of 2 August 2011 for a digital Principality, as amended[1], concerning domain names.

The following are annexed to it:

-APPENDIX 1 - NAME CHARTER defining the Rules for the allocation, registration, management and maintenance of domain names in the ".mc" geographical naming zone by the Registrar (Network Information Center - NIC Monaco[2] > https://www.nic.mc), and APPENDIX TO APPENDIX 1 - REGISTRATION AGREEMENT ;

-APPENDIX 2 - RATES FOR OPERATIONS ON .MC DOMAIN NAMES setting the amount of the fee for the allocation or renewal of the domain name.

Transitional period for compliance:

Registrants of domain names existing on the day of the publication of the Charter are, during a transitional period, required to take all actions, of any kind, necessary to comply with it, at the latest until 28 January 2023 (twelve months from the publication) .

Extensions no longer permitted:

As of the publication of the Charter, the registration of domain names under the zones: ".asso.mc", ".tm.mc" and the sectorial zones: « .architectes.mc », « .dentiste.mc », « .experts-comptables.mc », « .avocat.mc », « .comptables-agrees.mc », « .notaire.mc », « .consul.mc ».

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FAQ

Who can apply to register or renew a ".mc" domain name?

• Legal entities with their registered office, principal place of business or administrative office in the territory of the Principality of Monaco;
• Associations and other Monegasque organisations or foundations;
• Holders of Monegasque trademarks registered and/or protected in the Principality of Monaco;
• Natural persons carrying out a self-employed craft, commercial, industrial or professional activity duly authorised by decision of the Minister of State;
• Embassies, Consulates and other diplomatic representations of the Principality of Monaco abroad.

What are the conditions to be met by the applicant for the domain name to be accepted?

• Company registered in the Monaco Trade and Industry Register (RCI): the domain name must correspond exactly to the company name or to one of its signs clearly indicated on the company's RCI. Dashes ('-') and full stops ('.') may be removed from the domain name on the form by the applicant;
• Liberal profession: the domain name must correspond to the name under which the activity is registered.
• Association or any other organisation registered in Monaco: the domain name must correspond to the exact name as indicated in its statutes.
• Trademark registered in Monaco: the domain name must correspond to the trademark as indicated on its registration certificate.

Roles of the NIC Monaco and the Bureau d'enregistrement (Registrar): who to contact to register a .mc domain name?

From the end of the 12-month transitional period mentioned above, no further requests for operations relating to a domain name may be sent directly to NIC Monaco.

The Registrar is the mandatory and sole contact (intermediary) between an applicant or holder of a ".mc" domain name and the NIC Monaco.

Fees applicable to .mc domain names (€ incl. VAT):

• Registrar membership: €500 (invoiced annually on the anniversary of the Registration Agreement for the coming year).
• Creation (does not apply to TLDs that no longer accept new domains), renewal, assignment and forced transfer to a new provider (at the expense of the incoming provider), recovery after deletion: €10.

NOTES:

[1] Article 20 law no. 1.383: "The ".mc" geographical naming zone within the top level domains relating to a specific geographical area corresponds to the territory of Monaco.

The State department responsible for allocating domain names in the ".mc" geographical naming zone as well as the tasks and management methods specific to this activity are determined by Sovereign Order.

The State service referred to in the previous paragraph shall use a fee for the allocation or renewal of the domain name, the amount of which shall be set by ministerial order.

The rules concerning the allocation, registration, management and maintenance of domain names in the ".mc" geographical naming zone shall be established by ministerial order."

[2] The NIC Monaco is part of the Department of Digital Platforms and Resources (DPRN) which, pursuant to number 6 of Sovereign Order 7.997 of 12 March 2020, is responsible for planning, allocating and managing all the Principality of Monaco's resources relating to the electronic communications sector.