Domain names
A domain name is an address on the internet. It is common to link services such as websites or email addresses to the domain name. The company name, trademarks or other names and expressions can be registered as domain names.
How do I register a domain name?
All domain names under .no are registered with Norid. However, domain names must be ordered from a domain reseller.
A top-level domain is the word after the period in the domain name. In addition to national country codes such as .no and .se, there are many other top-level domains, such as .com or .org. These are often called generic top-level domains.
You will find an overview of all top-level domains in the world and who is responsible for their operation on the IANA website.
What rights does a domain name give?
Registration of a domain name gives a right of use. A domain name is basically just an address on the internet and gives no rights to the name.
If you have used a domain name for a long time, however, it may be included in the assessment of whether you have an incorporated trademark right.
Can several people have the right to the same domain name?
A domain name is unique and can only have one owner under the same top-level domain. However, the same domain name can be registered with different holders under different top-level domains, for example under .no and .com. Conflicts can thus arise between several people who believe they have the right to the same domain name.
Several organizations can therefore be entitled to the same domain name on their own basis. Some may have it as a registered trademark, others as a company name and still others claim that it has been incorporated as their trademark. All of these can have equal rights to the domain name, but only one can have it registered under the .no domain or another domain. The first-come, first-served principle applies here.
What do I need to check before registering a domain name?
If you want to register a domain name under .no, you must first make sure that no one else already has the right to the name you want to register.
Through the Namesearch service, you can check whether the name you have in mind is available both as a trademark, domain name and company name.
How to complain about domain names?
If someone has registered your trademark as a domain name under .no, you can filke a complaint through Norid to the Domain Complaints Board.
You must be able to document that you have a right to the name (for example a registered trademark or company name), and that the holder of the domain name has acted in bad faith.
If you want to complain about a domain name under another top-level domain, you can find more information on the WIPO website.
Name serach service
Namesearch (navnesok.no) is a search service that makes it easy for you to check whether domain names, company names and trademarks are available - all three in one search.
The service is a collaboration between the Norwegian Industrial Property Office (trademark), Norid (domain name) and the Brønnøysund Register Center (company name). This search service is free and open to everyone.