.COOP - General FAQs

Who can register a .coop domain name?

Only cooperatives, cooperative service organizations and wholly owned subsidiaries of cooperatives will be eligible to use the .coop domain name. It is the responsibility of dotCoop to ensure that organizations that register .coop names meet the .coop TLD Eligibility Criteria as noted below.

If you are not sure if your organization is eligible, please contact support@communicate.coop. Ineligible registrants forfeit the entire registration fee.

What are the .coop TLD Eligibility Criteria?

• members of the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA);
• members of the International Cooperative Alliance(ICA);
• organizations formed as and/or considered cooperatives under applicable local law;
• associations comprised of cooperatives;
• organizations that are committed to the seven cooperative principles;
• organizations that are controlled by cooperatives;
• entities whose operations are principally dedicated to serving cooperatives; and
• for no more than 5,000 registrants, persons or entities whose use of a .coop domain name would, in the opinion of the DCLLC Board, advance the interests of the cooperative sector in general or would assist in the development of cooperatives worldwide.

Who sets the eligibility criteria?

As the sponsor, dotCoop sets eligibility policies for registration for the .coop TLD based on the criteria defined in the agreement with ICANN. Eligibility criteria are specified in the Registration Agreement.

How will dotCoop ensure that only eligible organizations purchase names in the .coop domain?

During the registration process, Registrars will request contact information from the registrant for two "sponsors" that would be able to provide information to help validate the eligibility of the registrant.

Can a member of a cooperative purchase a .coop name?

Individuals cannot purchase a .coop name for their own use. Domain names can only be registered by an eligible cooperative organization. Of course, individuals within a cooperative organization will be performing the actual purchase of names for the cooperative.

What happens if my registration is determined to be ineligible?

You will be informed of an appeals process if you feel this determination was made in error. You will have 30 days to initiate the appeals process. The names you have registered will remain in reserve until any appeals process is completed.

If you are determined to be ineligible for a .coop domain, you will forfeit the entire registration fee. If you are not sure that you are eligible, please contact the registry at support@communicate.coop to confirm your eligibility.

What is verification?

Verification is the process by which dotCoop determines whether an applicant is eligible to register a .coop domain name according to the .coop TLD Eligibility Criteria.

Why must my cooperative be verified when buying a .coop domain name?

Verification is required because the .coop top level domain (TLD) is a restricted TLD. This means that only cooperatives and organizations serving cooperatives are allowed to register and use .coop domain names. dotCoop is responsible for ensuring that only eligible organizations are using this TLD.

What is a Verification Partner?

A dotCoop Verification Partner is an organization or individual that agrees to assist dotCoop to confirm the eligibility of applicants for a .coop domain name. Verification Partners assist dotCoop by providing information on the legal and practical setting of cooperatives in their region or sector and by reviewing applications submitted to them by dotCoop and providing advice as to whether the applicant is a cooperative organization within their region or sector and under the terms of the .coop standard eligibility criteria.

By serving as a dotCoop Verification Partner, an organization can support local cooperatives and help them enroll in the new .coop system. This will allow cooperatives from all countries and all sectors to join together in a virtual community that gives them a clear identity on the Internet.

Why do I need to provide information about two "sponsors" for verification?

All registrants are asked to provide the names and contact information for two sponsors that can confirm the applicant's status as a cooperative under local cooperative definitions. Sponsors would normally be cooperatives or cooperative organizations. Sponsors will be used by the dotCoop Operations Center to support verification in areas where a Verification Partner does not exist or when the dotCoop Operations Center conducts spot checks to evaluate the verification system.

What does it mean if I get a notice that my eligibility is being verified?

This means that your application has been selected for verification. The verification process will determine your organization's eligibility to use a .coop domain name. The dotCoop Operations Center will contact the verification Sponsors provided by you during registration to complete the eligibility verification for your organization.

During this verification process, the name(s) you have selected will be held in reserve. Within 5 business days, you will be notified by email of the verification decision. If the dotCoop Operations Center cannot determine eligibility based on the Sponsor information, you will be asked to provide appropriate documentation demonstrating eligibility for .coop registration. The names selected for your organization will remain in reserve while this manual verification proceeds.

What happens if my registration is determined to be eligible?

The names that you have registered will be immediately released from reserve for use by your organization. No further action on your part is required.

What happens if my registration is determined to be ineligible?

You will be informed of an appeals process if you feel this determination was made in error. You will have 30 days to initiate the appeals process. The names you have registered will remain in reserve until any appeals process is completed.

If you are determined to be ineligible for a .coop domain, you will forfeit the entire registration fee. If you are not sure that you are eligible, please contact the registry at support@communicate.coop to confirm your eligibility.

What materials might be requested by the dotCoop Operation Center in a manual verification?

1. A copy of the organization's bylaws,
2. A copy of the organization's most recent annual report or the most recent past two years of audited financials or financial statements provided to members over the past five years,
3. A sample of the organization's membership application forms and/or membership materials, promotional, sales or informational material that reference the organizations status as a cooperative.

In addition, two references of individuals who can support your organization's cooperative status will be required.

What happens to the names that were registered while my organization is verified?

While the dotCoop Operations Center verifies your eligibility for registering names under the .coop system, the names you have requested for your cooperative will be held in reserve. Your cooperative will not be able to use the names nor will other registrants be able to register these names.

How long will verification take?

If your cooperative is selected for verification, the system will notify you immediately that the verification process is needed before your cooperative's requested names can be used. In most cases, an eligibility determination will be made within 5 business days. In situations where additional materials or review are needed, the verification process may take as long as 2-3 weeks.

How can I check the status of my status verification process?

If you would like an update on the status of your verification, contact the dotCoop Operations Center.

Will I have to pay for my .coop domain if I am being verified?

Yes, you will still be charged for your .coop domain. If you are not eligible, your registration fee will not be refunded. If you are not sure of your eligibility, please contact the dotCoop Operations Center. They will be happy to assist you in confirming this before registration.

What happens to the name I have purchased if my cooperative is determined to be ineligible for registration?

If your cooperative is determined ineligible for registration, the domain names you requested will be held for 30 days until the appeals period has expired. If you appeal the ruling in that time period, the names you have purchased will remain on reserve until the end of the appeal process. If the ineligibility ruling is upheld in the appeals process, the names you have purchased will be released from the reserved name system and you will not be able to register names on the .coop domain name system.

Will I be charged a fee for verification?

No. Verification is part of the cost of the .coop domain name.

How do I update my Sponsor information once my registration is accepted?

Sponsor information is only used at the time of registration to verify your eligibility. It does not need to be maintained. If the dotCoop registry needs to contact your Sponsors after registration, it will contact you for any updated information.