.COOP Domain Requirements & Criteria Generic FAQ - Can we buy a name if our co-op is not fully organized?
- Yes, you can purchase a name for your co-op as it is being formed. DotCoop recognizes the need to create your Internet identity as an integral part of the start-up of any company in today's world. However, dotCoop reserves the right to review your eligibility after an appropriate time and revoke your .coop domains with no refund if the organization that is created is not eligible as defined by our Charter. Generally, dotCoop reviews such registrations within six months of registration.
- Who can register a .coop domain name?
- Only cooperatives, cooperative service organizations and subsidiaries of cooperatives will be eligible to use the .coop domain name. It is the responsibility of .coop to ensure that organizations that register .coop names meet the .coop TLD eligibility criteria.
- What are the .coop TLD eligibility criteria?
- To be approved to register and use a .coop domain name, an applicant must qualify under at least one of the following criteria:
* members of the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA) if otherwise eligible;
* members of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) if otherwise eligible;
* 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 majority 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.
- Can an individual purchase a .coop name?
- Individuals cannot purchase a .coop name. Domain names can only be registered by an eligible cooperative organization. Individual's names can be purchased by a cooperative or other eligible organization (i.e., carolynhoover.coop) with the permission of the individual.
- Does a co-op have to meet all of seven of the cooperative principles to be eligible?
- Yes. Of course, if the principle is not relevant to that type of co-op then it would not be required. For instance, many buying co-ops do not require capital investment so that principal would not apply to that type of co-op.
- Can we buy a name if our co-op is not fully organized?
- Yes, you can purchase a name for your co-op as it is being formed. .coop recognizes the need to create your Internet identity as an integral part of the start-up of any company in today's world. However, .coop reserves the right to review your eligibility after an appropriate time and revoke your .coop domains with no refund if the organization that is created is not eligible as defined by our Charter. Generally, dotCoop reviews such registrations within six months of registration.
- What is verification?
- Verification is the process by which .coop determines whether an applicant is eligible to register a .coop domain name according to the .coop TLD Eligibility Criteria.
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. .coop is responsible for ensuring that only eligible organizations are using this TLD.
- Why do I need to provide information about two "sponsors" when I register my name?
- This information is used to confirm the applicants status as a cooperative. Sponsors are usually cooperatives or cooperative organizations. Sponsors may be contacted if .coop has not been able to complete a verification using other processes and contacts such as Verification Partners.
- What additional materials might be requested during verification?
- Documentation requested in a manual verification may include the following:
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, additional references other than your original Sponsors may be requested if the original sponsors could not help confirm your eligibility.
Source: www.nic.coop/
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