- 1998 -

Legal Deposit No. 128352/98

1 IntrodUCTION *

1. Introduction

 

The FCCN - Fundação para a Computação Científica Nacional (National Foundation for Scientific Computing) has been delegated responsible by the IANA - Internet Assigned Numbers Authority for the registration of specific domains in Portugal i.e. those which are registered immediately below the PT toplevel level domain. The IANA itself is the body responsible for the administration of the appointment of DNS domains used on the Internet. The IANA acts as a managerial and co-ordinating centre for the various parameters used in Internet protocols in the name of the ISOC - Internet Society and the US Federal Network Council (FNC). The members of the IANA are selected by the IETF- Internet Engineering Task Force and approved by the ISOC Board of Trustees.

 

The delegation of these responsibilities is explained in greater detail in the RFC1032/3/4 and RFC1591 documents.

 

The aim of this document is to inform the Internet community of the current rules and all procedures associated with the creation, maintenance and removal of a PT domain.

 

The registration of a PT domain does not confer on the candidate institution any kind of intellectual ownership of the domain name other than that which is strictly necessary for the functioning of the DNS.

 

In this document, for the sake of convenience, domains directly below the Portugal (PT) TLD will be referred to as "PT domains" or simply "domains".

 

 

This document may be freely copied.

2.  
3. The PT servers

The FCCN operates the primary DNS server in of the PT domain: NS.DNS.PT. This server is situated hosted in Lisbon and, to ensure reliability, copies of the information it contains are dispersed throughout various countries and institutions. To be more precise, the following machines are secondary servers for the PT domain: CIUP1.NCC.UP.PT, SUNIC.SUNET.SE, NS.EU.NET, NS.UU.NET, INESC.INESC.PT and NS2.NIC.FR.

Due to the particular functions of this server, it is configured to include certain specifications, namely:

• Recursivness Recursion – this server only responds answers to DNS queries in the about domains in which it is a primary or secondary server, that is to say that it is set in disconnected the recursive mode is turned off..
• Zone transferrals transfer – zone transferrals transfer are only authorised to secondary servers.

Since the 30^th. September 1998 the NS.DNS.PT has ceased to be the secondary server for new PT domains. Domains which were requested before this date will be allowed to maintain NS.DNS.PT as a secondary server for some time into the future, although eventually this service will be discontinued.

1. Requirements to create a PT domain

 

The domains are administrative bodies. The main aim of the domains is to allow a central body to organise the division of its names into various sub-entities. In Portugal the domains do not constitute legal entities.

 

There are no geographical or topological restrictions on the hierarchy of the domains. The hosts of a domain hosts may be located at different points of the Internet and do not have to use the same software and/or hardware.

 

The majority of the requirements and limitations involved in the registration of a domain exist in order to ensure that it is managed responsibly. The administration of a

 

domain involves controlling the attribution of names (both of theto hosts and their to other domains) within the domain and supplying access to information related to these names for internal and external domain users.

 

Various requirements have to be fulfilled before a domain can be registered and authorised. Basically, the following three elements must be established: an applicant, a designated techniciantechnical contact, who must act as co-ordinator in matters relating to the domain, and names servers.

 

1. 3.1Candidate Institutions Applicants

Entities which apply for registration of a new domain are defined as "Candidate ApplicantsInstitutions".

Only the following entities may register PT domains:

1. A primary names server must be installed and configured and, in addition:
2. at least one secondary server, although it is advisable to have two or more.
3. Whenever technically feasible, the servers should be installed in separate buildings and should not use the same local network.
4. The servers do not need to be physically located in the installations of the candidate institution and may be housed in the premises of a third institution.
5. The servers must be guaranteed permanent access to the Internet, so that they may be consulted at any time.
6. Access must be given to the systems indicated by the FCCN in order to effect do zone transferrals to the corresponding domains.
7. The servers must use the parameters established in the rules for parameters and usage in the RFC’s 819, 920, 874, 1032 to 1035 and 1101, and in any other current or future documents which may apply in this context.
8. "MX resource records ", "NS resource records" or "forwarders" clauses displayed by servers exterior to the domain in question may only be used after the parties responsible have granted authorisation.

3.3.1 As part of the registration process it is necessary to nominate three contacts who will be responsible for the domain: an administrative contact, a technical contact and a contact responsible for billing payments.

a) The individual nominated responsible for administration must be a legally recognised representative of the candidate institution. This contact will carry out all alterations to the environment of the requested domain which they consider necessary, including its removal. Should the administrative contact change during the course of the domain’s existence, a declaration should be sent to the FCCN informing them of the changes and supplying the data for the new administrative contact.

b) The technical contact should be someone with the authority to administer the names within the domain and take responsibility for the performance of its hosts. This individual must have a technical background and be available to receive and assess reports of problems and, if necessary, take action to resolve them. They should always be contacted when problems occur with access to the names servers or with the configuration of the domain. They may also make alterations to the domain but may not request its removal.⁷

It must be possible to contact the technical contact through a mailbox specified in the "SOA resource record" and which must, therefore, be active.

c) In order to charge the domain, a contact person should be nominated to whom the respective bills may be sent. This contact will deal with all matters relating to the payment of domain registration and maintenance costs. Should any problems occur in this area, the administrative contact will be duly notified.

1. Names attribution policy

Domain names must be as unambiguous as possible. Longer but clearly defined names are preferable to very short abbreviations which may easily lead to clashes and uncertainties.

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4.1 Domain names which observe the following conditions are accepted as valid by the FCCN:

1. The domain name to be registered must be between 2 and 63 characters long, and limited to the following set:

0123456789abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz

2. No distinction is made between upper and lower case letters.
3. The name may not consist only of numbers
4. The «-» (hyphen) character may be used to separate words, but may never be used at the beginning or end of a domain name.
5. No more than one domain may be registered under the same name. In cases of name clashes, it is up to the respective institutions to reach an agreement on name ownership.

1. The domain name requested may not be the same as that of any other top level domain on the Internet or any other which is in the process of being created, with the exception of the gov.pt domain attributed to the Government of the Portuguese Republic.
2. Geographical names may not be used i.e. those of a topographic nature, names of rivers or administrative regions such as, for example Lisboa.pt, Minho.pt or Guadiana.pt.

4.2 The domain name requested by an entity must be the same as that declared in the National Register of Collective Persons (RNPC) or in the Diário da República publication in the case of public institutions.

1. Abbreviations or references to a legally established name may also be used as domain names provided that they are not generic in nature and that they reflect the aims of the candidate institution clearly.

 

 

 

 

 

2. In these terms, generic names are considered to be either those which do not clearly convey the features of the candidate institution or those which provide misleading information about its activities.
3. Names which contain only very broad definitions are also considered generic. For example, names of establishments (ourivesaria.pt, jeweller’s.pt, papelariastationers.pt), para ficar em português professions (carteiro.pt, condutor.ptpostman.pt, driver.pt), é para ficar em português illnesses (sida.pt, gripe.pt),AIDS.pt, flu.pt), é para ficar em português names related to nature (zebra.pt, tulipa.pt, calcario.ptzebra.pt, tulip.pt, calcareous.pt) é para ficar em portuguêsor personal attributes (mau.pt, excelente.pt)bad.pt, excellent.pt) para ficar em português are not acceptable.

4.3 Without overriding the points made in 4.2, in cases where the candidate institution has:

1. A periodical registered with the Instituto da Comunicação Social (Institute of Social Communication) - ICS;
2. An ADMD X.400 registered with the Instituto das Comunicações de Portugal (Portuguese Communications Institute) - ICP;
3. A brand registered trademark with the INPI - Instituto Nacional de Propriedade Industrial (National Institute of Industrial Ownership).

Names which correspond to those registered with the above institutions will also be accepted as domain names.

4.3.1 In these cases, abbreviations of the names registered with the above authorities (the ICS, ICP and the INPI) will not be accepted. An abbreviation is defined as the use of only a few of the letters or words of which the full name is comprised. The name which the domain intends to use must therefore be identical to that which appears on the registration document.

4.3.2 In relation to brands registered with the INPI:

1. Only brandnames consisting of the acceptable elements of a name using accepted phonemes, and containing only the characters previously referred to as valid (see parag. a) point 4.1) will be considered.
2. Copies of requests for registration (of a brand accepted by the INPI, for example preferably with the relevant documentation enclosed) will be accepted. If, however, the request is refused, it is the responsibility of the institution which holds the domain to communicate this information to the FCCN and the domain will be duly removed.
3. If there are any doubts about the graphic composition of the brandname documentary proof from the INPI may be demanded.

4.3.3 Sole Traders Empresários em Nome Individual (Single Entrepreneurs)é para ficar em português may not use their name as a domain name unless it has been previously registered as a brandname, in which case they should only use the names authorised in the paragraphs of point 4.3.

In addition, please note that:

4.4 At present there is no limit on the number of PT domains a candidate institution may request. However, in order to organise the institution’s space on the Internet effectively it is recommended that only one PT domain is used and, if necessary, further use should be made of the domains within it.

4.5 Departments, faculties, schools, offices and other sectors of an institution should register themselves as domains of that institution and not as PT domains.

4.6 Certain classes of public institutions may use a prefix in order to be more easily identified. Ministries, for example, may use the prefix "Min-" (Min-Saude.pt). (Min-Health.pt). é para ficar em português The following are examples:

1. Responsibilities

 

5.1 The candidate institutions must assume total responsibility for the choice of the domain name which they request. It is their particular responsibility to ensure that the requested domain name does not conflict with any intellectual or industrial ownership rights.

 

5.2 The candidate institutions must authorise the placing of all data concerning the requested domain and its respective contacts on support files to be used by the FCCN only when strictly necessary for the management of the "PT Domains Registration Service".

 

 

 

 

2. Costs

1. Since 1^st. January 1997 the registration of a PT domain has become a paid service. This annual, non-profit making charge is necessary to ensure the correct management and functioning of the primary PT DNS server. It covers personnel costs, the cost of the server and the UPS⁸, the maintenance of the server and the UPS, the connection connectivity to IP, electricity, refrigeration, international co-ordination and technical updates.

 

2. The annual fee is Pte 7,500 + VAT. Domains registered in the final quarter of each year are exempt from payment for that year.

c) Payment may only be made by one of the following methods, in order of preference:

• Cheque

• Postal Order

• Bank Transfer:

1. If a domain is not paid for within 30 days of receiving a bill, it will be removed.

 

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8 UPS – Uninterrupted Power Supply

 

 

 

2. Once the domain has been set up and, during the final quarter of each year the FCCN will bill each domain through its contact for its services. Upon receiving payment, if requested, the FCCN will forward a receipt to the address indicated on the registration request forms.

1. Registration Procedures

1. A request to register a domain must be sent to the FCCN using the appropriate form.
2. This form is enclosed in the appendix and may be freely reproduced or photocopied, preferably using the candidate institution’s headed stationery.
3. The request form must be completed correctly, signed by a representative of the institution and stamped with the candidate institution’s stamp (or with the appropriate embossed white seal)
4. All the relevant documentation referred to in point 8 must be enclosed with the request for registration.

7.1 Means of contact:

a) The completed form, together with the original documents required, must be sent to the following address:

b) If there are found to be technical faults that prevent the correct configuration of the domain, the candidate institution must correct all the anomalies that have been detected within a period of one month after they have been brought to their attention. Failure to do so may result in the proceedings being held on file, thus obliging the candidate institution to reapply to the FCCN for registration.

7.3 If the documents are completed correctly and the servers correctly configured, a domain will normally become active within a maximum period of 15 working days.

1. Documents to be enclosed with a request for registration

 

8.1 Candidate institutions must always enclose a copy of the following documents:

a) A Collective Persons´ identity card in the case of businesses registered with the RNPC

b) documentary evidence from the Diário da República proving the status of entity with autonomous administration, in all other cases.

 

8.2 Documents proving the appropriate registration with the ICS, ICP or INPI should be enclosed with requests for the domains referred to in the paragraphs of point 4.3.

 

2.  
3. Rejection of a request

 

a) A request may be rejected if it does not comply with the procedures indicated in the previous points.

 

b) The administrative contact will be notified of the rejection and after this the request cannot be resubmitted.

 

c) In the event of any problems, either the administrative contact or the technical contact will be notified, depending on the nature of the problem.

 

d) If, by the end of the agreed period of time, outstanding anomalies have not been regularised, the procedures for registering the domain will be filed/annulled thus obliging the candidate institution to reapply to the FCCN.

 

 

4. Alterations

a) In the event of any alterations to the information originally supplied in reference to the aforementioned contacts, it is the responsibility of the institution which holds the domain to inform the FCCN within 30 days of these changes.

b) If any alterations are to be made to the primary or secondary servers the FCCN must be notified within a period of eight working days before these modifications are made by those responsible for the domain.

c) Failure to comply with the above procedures will absolve the FCCN of any responsibility in situations in which contact needs to be made between the entities involved and in situations in which the service fails to function well.

d) In order to carry out alterations the form which is enclosed in the appendix to this document must be used. The form must always bear the name of the domain for which the alterations are intended. Once fully completed, this form should be sent to the FCCN at the abovementioned address.

1. The designated technician may request the alteration of any items relating to the domain except the name of the administrative contact and the name of the candidate institution. In addition he may not take any action towards its removal.

 

2. The process of altering the name of a domain consists of two stages:

1. removing the old domain
2. requesting a new domain

1. Removing a domain

a) In order to remove a PT domain the administrative contact or another individual clearly identified and authorised by the candidate institution is required only to complete the form enclosed in the Appendix (the same form used to request a domain) to the same address used for requests for a domain.

11.1 A PT domain may also be removed if:

1. The institution which requested it no longer exists (due to bankruptcy, merger with another institution, closure etc.)

 

2. An institution has lost the right to use the domain name.

 

3. Payments are more than 30 days overdue.

e) Requested documents do not reach the FCCN within the agreed period of time.

f) The servers which support the domain do not fulfil the technical conditions deemed adequate within the agreed time limit.

g) There is a lack or incomplete amount of information, which thus prevents the FCCN from establishing contact.

11.2 The FCCN will notify the administrative contact of the domain in question by registered letter within a period of 10 working days, explaining the reasons for its removal.

11.3 The FCCN N is exempt from responsibility for any consequences of the removal of a domain under any of the above circumstances.

11.4 After a domain has been removed its name cannot be reused by any other institution for a period of 30 days.

1. Developments Updates

The rules and procedures described in this document have been revised in accordance with the needs which have arisen as a result of the dramatic growth of the Internet. The FCCN encourages Internet users to forward any suggestions related to this document. If they are judged relevant and of possible future use, they will be taken into account in any revisions of this present document.

 

This document is available in electronic format at http://www.dns.pt/. A legal deposit of the same has also been made, bearing the number 128352/98.

 

2. Resolution of conflicts

Any differences of opinion which may arise in interpreting this document may be resolved through arbitration under the terms of the current law.

When an institution decides to submit a written request for a domain it should be forwarded using the text on the following page, which should be duly completed and signed. It is not necessary to enclose the text which contains instructions on how to complete the form.

0 New/Alteration/Removal |_|

Telephone: |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|

Fax: |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|

E - mail: |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|

Telephone: |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|

Fax: |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|

E - mail: |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|

Collective Persons registered with the Registo Nacional de Pessoas Colectivas |_|

A public entity with autonomous administration |_|

0 Novo/Alteração/Remoção |_|

Telefone: |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|

Fax: |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|

Correio Electrónico: |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|

Telefone: |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|

Fax: |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|

Correio Electrónico: |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|

Uma pessoa colectiva registada no Registo Nacional de Pessoas Colectivas |_|

Uma entidade pública com autonomia administrativa |_|

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