In this article, we will explain the policies regarding the Germany country-code TLD .de.
The reader is encouraged to understand all the concepts and terms outlined in the Basics before proceeding further with this article. In fact, this article is written on the premise that the reader is familiar with the terminology used.
Prerequisite
Go to: https://my.planethoster.com.
Basics
If necessary, refer to the article about Country-Code Domain Specifications.
Format of .de
When registering a .de domain:
- you must use between 1 and 63 characters;
- you can use letters (from a to z), numbers (from 0 to 9) and hyphens (with the exception of the first and last characters of the domain name);
- you cannot use special characters (for example, * and $);
- IDN: authorized.
Prohibited and Reserved Names
All names are permitted.
However, DENIC reserves the right to reject the application if it is clear that the registration is illegal.
Nameserver Requirements
You must use between 0 and 13 authorized nameservers. Each nameserver must be located on a separate Class C network. In other words, the first three bytes cannot be identical.
You can use IPV4 and IPV6, but you cannot use DNSSEC.
NAST’s web interface (https://nast.denic.de/) is very useful for pre-delegation checks to ensure that the nameservers for your .de domain are correctly configured.
Special Features of the “Name” Fields of the German TLD “.de
The .de TLD is an open registry: you do not have to be a German resident or commercial operator to register a .de domain.
For each domain, DENIC registers not only the Domain Holder, but also an Administrative Contact, a Technical Contact and, if the Domain Holder delegates name servers for the domain, a Zone Administrator, as well as technical data relating to the domain’s connectivity.
Domain Holder
The Domain Holder is DENIC’s contractual partner and therefore holds the material rights to the domain.
A domain may have several joint holders. If the Domain Holder or one of the joint holders is not a natural person, the full name of the incorporated organization (legal entity) must be provided (including an indication of its legal form). In addition, the full postal address of the Domain Holder and, in the case of several joint Domain Holders, the full postal address of at least one of them, must be provided.
Administrative Contact
The Administrative Contact (admin-c) is a natural person appointed by the Domain Holder to act as an authorized representative, with the authority and duty to make decisions in all matters concerning the domain.
It is not possible to appoint more than one admin-c for each domain.
If the Domain Holder or one of the joint holders of the domain is an individual, he/she is free to assume the admin-c function him/herself.
The following details must be supplied for the admin-c: name, address, telephone number and e-mail address.
If the Domain Holder is not domiciled in Germany, the admin-c will also be the person authorized to receive the notification. In this case, the admin-c must be domiciled in Germany and his/her full postal address must be provided.
Technical Contact
The Technical Contact (tech-c) looks after the technical side of the domain.
It can be a named individual or a group of people with an abstract designation (a role account).
The following data must be supplied for the tech-c: name, address, telephone number and e-mail address. A fax number can also be supplied.
Zone Administrator
The Zone Administrator (zone-c) looks after the name servers for the domain; for zone-c, the same rules apply as for tech-c.
It is not possible to designate a zone-c for a domain for which no name server has been delegated.
Can I Register a Domain Managed by DENIC for More Than One Year?
Currently, DENIC domains can only be registered for a period of one year, and can be renewed indefinitely.
How do I Recover an Unpaid/Cancelled Domain?
Domains that have not been paid on time, or for which automatic renewal has been deactivated, go into redemption status within 5 days; they are no longer usable at that point.
You have the option of reclaiming the domain via the registrar within 31 days of the anniversary date of the domain. Once this period has elapsed, the domain can be purchased by anyone who wishes to do so.
Please note:
- The grace period for redemption lasts until the 31st day after the end of the last domain holder’s registration, up to a date chosen at random by DENIC on that 31st day.
- If, during the redemption period, a password for a provider transfer has been issued, the redemption period extends to the 30th day after this password is first set, up to a time randomly chosen by DENIC on that 30th day.
- The last domain holder may at any time waive the redemption period by explicit written declaration to DENIC; in this case, the redemption period ends at a time randomly chosen by DENIC, but no later than the first working day after receipt by DENIC of the declaration of waiver.
Special Features of Domain Transfers for Germany
When transferring a .de domain, any registration period exceeding one year is not transferred to the new registrar.
Additional Information
DENIC’s terms and conditions are very useful to consult.
You can refer to the DENIC website at https://www.denic.de/en/.
DENIC documentation on the Web is written in English and German only.