Published October 9, 2010
With many nations now allowing foreigners to register ccTLD (country code Top Level Domain) names, the options for registering an ideal name have broadened, but registrants should also ensure they are familiar with the relevant laws and culture of the country in question.
The registrants of vb.ly, an adult oriented URL shortening service, have had their domain name deleted from the Libyan registry. According to NIC.ly, the organisation overseeing the use of the .ly (Libya) name space:
"This use was deemed as unacceptable by our local internet community, regardless of whether or not the site hosts adult material or redirects traffic to 3rd party site"
NIC.ly states it had made repeated attempts to communicate their concerns with the vb.ly registrants.
According to the registrants, they received no such communications. They say the deletion notification stated that the content of their website was illegal according to Libyan Islamic Sharia Law. According to the registrants, an image of a woman exposing her arms and holding a bottle was among the elements cited as "obscene, offensive and illegal".
People considering a ccTLD need to research the culture of the country in question, as what may be deemed acceptable content in some countries may not be in others. With some registrants investing a great deal of time and money in their web sites, extensive research and other forms of due diligence before registering a domain name can help prevent headaches and financial losses in the future.
Related: Domain name registration tips
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