.us Do you have to be US citizen for .US Domains?

[binaryman]

Just saw this paragraph in the Sedo report on .US domains. I purchased quite a few but I am not an American citizen and I live in Europe. Does this mean I cannot sell them or cannot legally be the registrant?

"The .US TLD may be registered by citizens and permanent residents of the United States or by any entity or organization which has a legitimate presence in the United States."

Please can someone explain a bit more and if my fears are groundless.
Regards
Binaryman

 

[xmeltrut]

My understanding is that you can own them providing you have regular connections or dealies with the US.

 

[binaryman]

Exactly yes that is why I am asking what the situation in my case is since I own the sites but I dont qualify on all the points.
Does this mean I must give up the sites or what???In other words..what is my position here now??

 

[edwinfelix]

In the olden days you can just use private registration.

Now you can't do that anymore, so it's a bit tricky.

 

[staskul]

binaryman
No

 

[faisj]

My understanding is that you can own them providing you have regular connections or dealies with the US.

How can you prove that?

 

[binaryman]

Exactly yes HOW? Seems a bit of an impossibility to me.

 

[charbar]

Just saw this paragraph in the Sedo report on .US domains. I purchased quite a few but I am not an American citizen and I live in Europe. Does this mean I cannot sell them or cannot legally be the registrant?

"The .US TLD may be registered by citizens and permanent residents of the United States or by any entity or organization which has a legitimate presence in the United States."

Please can someone explain a bit more and if my fears are groundless.
Regards
Binaryman

...yes, I had the same problem. Apparently, you do have be a USA citzen - or "have a presence" in that country, to buy and use (and presumably buy with intent to sell) a name with the .US extention.
However, I wouldn't have any sleepless nights about owning names with the .US extention, as I would imagine there must be thousands of domainers, who like you, bought names in good faith, unaware of the reg'ing restrictions.
Perhaps ignorance of the law is no excuse in the USA. (perhaps someone like I Am Allan Shore could enlighten you) but I honestly cant see the FBI worrying about the individual in these cases. (Unless you own a sensitive or derogatory name).
If you have an excellent name(s) with the .US extention, I'm sure a fellow site member from the USA would gladly become your agent or "presence" in that country - for the usual financial considerations, of course.
Good Luck. :hehe:

 

[gazzip]

The following is off their website

Who can register a .US domain name?

Any U.S. citizen or resident, as well as any business or organization, including federal, state, and local government with a bona fide presence in the United States can register a .US domain name.

One of the following eligibility requirements must be met:

A natural person (i) who is a citizen or permanent resident of the United States of America or any of its possessions or territories or (ii) whose primary place of domicile is in the United States of America or any of its possessions, or

Any entity or organization that is incorporated within one of the fifty (50) U.S. states, the District of Columbia, or any of the United States possessions or territories or (ii) organized or otherwise constituted under the laws of a state of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, or any of its possessions or territories, or

An entity or organization (including federal, state, or local government of the United States, or a political subdivision thereof) that has a bona fide presence in the United States. See Section B.3.1 of the NeuStar proposal to the Department of Commerce for details concerning what constitutes a “bona fide presence


http://www.nic.us/faqs/index.html#who_can_register

 

[Badger]

might be an idea not to post 4 identical threads on the same day, one is adequate

 

[gazzip]

might be an idea not to post 4 identical threads on the same day, one is adequate

If you meant me Badger I posted the .us rules twice - once here and once in the newbie section

If you did'nt mean me - ignore me

 

[cache]

are there any real case (example) where the .us were taken away because of the citizenship or no-real-present in USA?

 

[smub]

not that i know of

but you have to be a citizen, or a permenant-resident, or you must make profit from U.S goods or something like that in order for you to register .us

 

[hanz]

but you have to be a citizen, or a permenant-resident, or you must make profit from U.S goods or something like that in order for you to register .us

yes you have to, but no one is actually checking it. There are more than 1 non-usa (a lot more ) webmasters using .us domains without any problems, so I wouldn't worry

 

[rokoroko]

"or you must make profit from U.S goods "



when I sell us domain than I make a profit from U S goods -

so It is allright.

 

[Badger]

If you meant me Badger I posted the .us rules twice - once here and once in the newbie section

If you did'nt mean me - ignore me

Not you, the OP has 4 identical threads floating around in the forum asking the same thing..

 

[binaryman]

Yes sorry Badger-my fault. I got so frantic with worry and no-one was replying at first so I got a bit too eager. Sorry bout that.

 

[AmD950]

Well I got one of my US domain deleted coz I can't prove my US citizenship, but as soon as they delete it, I register it again.

and so far I don't experience any big problems.

 

[binaryman]

OK I,ve decided to avoid getting into trouble over this so I,ve put these 4 really nice .US domains up for sale now at $200 for all 4 of them for a quick sale.

PM me if interested

 

[seeker]

other than owning a businhess in the US, even if you have office in the US as a subsidiary you can regg .us names.
I have heard (but not seen proof), that even owning a dedicated server in the US would be considered enough under 1 clause.