Domain names and dubious practices
False online business directories
Belgian business and organisations that own a domain name sometimes receive letters asking them to pass on their company and website details, or to check the details provided, and then to sign and send the letter back to the sender so that these details can be included in an online business directory. In their letters, these so-say Internet registers or directories use visual and copy elements that could easily be mistaken as being associated with official directory and/or Internet providers in Belgium. hose companies/organisations that fill in the details in the letter, then sign and send it back to the sender do so assuming that they are dealing with an official Belgian organisation. In actual fact, though, they are signing a purchase order for their details to be included in one or other online business “directory”. Having signed on the dotted line, as it were, they then receive an invoice and/or bank transfer request for the cost of including their details in the directory. DNS BE advises individuals or businesses that receive letters or registration forms of this kind to go through them very carefully before sending back the signed form. Also, if they have any questions about the management of their domain name, they should always get in contact with their accredited, genuinely official, DNS BE registrar. There have been a number of these so-called Internet directories operating in Belgium:- Nieuwe Bedrijvengids bvba, Koloniënstraat 11, 1000 Brussel: DNS BE received an example letter.
- DAD Deutscher Adressdienst GmbH, Postfach 760230, 22052 Hamburg, Germany: DNS BE has already received a large number of complaints from domain name holders who received a letter from this company under the heading of "Belgian Internet Register". In the letter, the recipients are asked to verify their company and website details, make any amendments required, and then send the letter back, signed for approval. However, signing the letter gives DAD permission to include the details provided in a Belgian Internet directory for a period of three years, in return for an annual fee of €958. Working with a number of other registries, DNS BE lodged an official complaint via the umbrella organisation CENTR with the relevant government ministry in Hamburg, Germany, requesting that the practices of DAD be investigated. Since then, CENTR has received a reply from the ministry in Hamburg stating that the investigation has been suspended due to the fact that there is insufficient evidence to charge DAD with fraud.
- De Internet-Bedrijvengids bvba, Boulevard de France 9, 1420 Braine l'Alleud: this company also sends out a pre-completed registration form, asking recipients to fill in their business details, make amendments where required, sign for approval and return the form so that the details provided can be included in a sort of online business directory for Belgian companies. By signing this document, the addressee gives permission for his or her company details to be included in the Internet business directory. However, a basic entry in the directory is not free of charge, as it would appear from the form, but in fact costs €879 a year. The agreement is also automatically renewed unless written cancellation is received by registered letter three months in advance. In response to an official report drafted by the Economic Inspectorate, the courts in Nivelles lodged proceedings against Internet-Bedrijvengids based on an “abuse of trust”. The case was heard before the Nivelles court on 20th June 2007, but was referred from Nivelles to the courts in Eupen for language reasons. The clerk of the court in Eupen has informed us that the case will not be heard before 2009 and possibly even 2010. On 8th August 2007, Unizo summoned Internet-Bedrijvengids via an injunction for dishonest trading practices before the chief judge of the Commercial Tribunal in Ghent.
On 21st August 2007, the chief judge of the Commercial Tribunal ordered Internet-Bedrijvengids by default to discontinue its canvassing practices and to pay a fine of €10,000 for each breach of the ban if registration forms for the online business directory are again sent out. Internet-appealed against this ruling, although on 15th February 2008, the Commercial Tribunal in Ghent upheld the ruling by the chief judge of the Commercial Tribunal.
However, since that time, Internet-Bedrijvengids bvba has gone into bankruptcy. - Internet Registratie Dienst (IRD), Jaargetijdenlaan 100-102, 1050 Brussels. This company sends out letters to .be domain name holders, with a transfer form attached, asking them to pay €14 (plus VAT) to be included or remain in an e-mail/company directory.
However, from the written and telephone response coming into DNS BE, our understanding is that the letter – and particularly the name of the company – is confusing for domain name holders and giving them the impression that IRD is an official body. It must be stated, however, that IRD is in no way involved in the registration and/or management of .be domain names and has no connection whatsoever with DNS BE. This company also has nothing to do with any registration or renewal of your .be domain name.
Offering corresponding domain names in other domain name zones
This practice happens when a so-called “registrar” (usually located in another country) contacts a company in Belgium by phone or e-mail and reveals to that company that one of its clients wishes to register the domain name corresponding to or very similar to the name of the company or one of its brands in one or more other domain name zones.
This “registrar” suggests to the company in question that it can register the domain name in the domain name zones it has mentioned in the e-mail or phone call.
The outrageous thing about this practice is that the “registrar” tends to carry out these registrations at extortionate prices and puts the companies that have been contacted under pressure to take a decision within a short space of time about whether or not to register the domain names in question.
DNS BE knows about two different methods used by this type of “registrar”:
- an e-mail is sent to the CEO by a domain name registration organisation operating in Asia informing the company that one of the “registrar’s” clients wishes to register the target company’s corporate name or brand name in a number of Asia domain name zones (.cn, .asia, .hk, etc.), asking the company to get in touch with the “registrar” as quickly as possible;
- or else the Belgian company is contacted by a so-called “registrar” with the same story, asking the company to make an immediate decision as to whether it wishes to register the domain name itself in the other domain name zones through this “registrar”.
DNS BE advises .be domain name holders to start by considering very carefully whether they are interested in having the extensions being offered for their domain name.
If the .be domain name holder does not want these extensions, the best thing to do is simply ignore the e-mail containing the offer. However, if the .be domain name holder is interested in having Asian or any other extensions, DNS BE strongly recommends that it contact its usual domain name registrar, which will then try and register the required extensions directly or through a reliable third party, charging the proper fee established in advance.
