How to choose and protect a domain name

A domain name is a unique address used to identify websites on the internet. For example, yourname.no is a domain name. It replaces long IP addresses with something easier to remember.

A top-level domain is the word that comes after the dot in a domain name. In addition to country-specific codes like .no or .se, there are many other TLDs such as .com or .org. These are often referred to as generic top-level domains.

You can find an overview of all TLDs in the world and who is responsible for managing them on IANA’s website.

A domain name is your business’s digital address. It’s often the first thing customers see—and remember. A good and clear domain name makes it easier to be found in searches, builds trust, and strengthens your online brand.

Registering a domain name gives you the right to use it. A domain name is essentially just an internet address and does not give you legal rights to the name itself.

However, if you have used a domain name for a long time, this may be considered when evaluating whether you have established trademark rights.

If you want to register a domain name under .no, you must first make sure that no one else already holds rights to the name you want to use.

Using the Name Search service (Navnesøk), you can check if your desired name is available as a trademark, domain name, and business name.

All .no domain names are registered through Norid. However, you must order your domain name through an accredited domain registrar.

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.

If someone has registered your trademark as a domain name under .no, you can filke a complaint through Norid to the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee (ADR Committee).

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.