Introduction
Since 1994, the University of Macau has been providing the Macao community with administration and registration service of the domain names of the Macao SAR: “.mo”.
Regulation on Registration of Domain Names of the Macao SAR
Chapter 1
General Provisions
Article 1
This Regulation governs the registration and operation of the domain names of the Macao SAR: “.mo”.
Article 2
Information regarding the domain name registration is published on the website of University of Macau (http://www.monic.net.mo).
Article 3
Whenever necessary, this Regulation may be amended by the University of Macau. The amended Regulation, which will be published on the aforementioned website (http://www.monic.net.mo) and will take effect on the day after that of its publication. Except otherwise stipulated, all domain name registrations, including the applications and operations, must comply with the latest amended version of the Regulation.
Chapter 2
Eligibility Requirements and Documentary Proofs
Article 4
Applicants who apply for registration of domain names of Macao SAR must fulfill the following conditions:
- They must declare compliance with this Regulation;
- They must be businesses or other organizations that are registered in Macao according to Macao’s law and regulations and can bear independently civil responsibilities;
- They must ensure, to their best of ability, that the primary domain name server supporting the operation of the domain name will function continuously;
- They must appoint an administrative representative and a technical representative, who are responsible for the administration of the domain name and the operation of the domain name server, respectively.
Article 5
Applications for domain name registration in the name of individuals will not be accepted.
Article 6
Except holders of short term domain names, local entities that have registered a third level domain name, that is, a domain name under the second level domain name (such as “.com.mo”, “.edu.mo”, “.org.mo”, “.net.mo” and “.gov.mo”), are eligible to apply for the same domain name under “.mo”.
Article 7
Documentary Proofs
- Applicants who apply for domain name registration under “com.mo” must have business license or offshore institution license or business-opening application from the Macao Government;
- Applicants who apply for domain name registration under “net.mo” must have License for Provision of Internet Service or License for Provision of Telecommunication Service from the Macao Government, or have authorization from the Macao Government to administer telecommunication resources or internet resources of the Macao SAR;
- Applicants who apply for domain name registration under “org.mo” must have association establishment license from the Macao Government or be organs of the Macao Government;
- Applicants who apply for domain name registration under “edu.com” must have educational institution license from the Macao Government, or be recognized by the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau as an education related institution;
- Applicants who apply for domain name registration under “.mo” must have the same documents as those required for their third level domain name registration;
- Applicants who apply for a domain name that is identical to the name of their trademark/service mark/patent must have the registration certificate of the trademark/service mark/patent from the Macao Government;
- The agent who is entrusted by the applicant with the domain name registration or the handling of other related matters must have an authorization document from the applicant, which specifies the substances and the scope of the delegated authority.
Article 8
Applicants must have the required documents ready at any time for immediate check, or must submit them to the University of Macau within five working days after receiving its request.
Chapter 3
Application for Domain Name Registration
Article 9
Except otherwise stipulated, applications for domain name registration are handled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Article 10
Except otherwise stipulated, the domain name solicited by the applicant must be consistent with its institution or organization name registered with the Macao Government, or be identical to its name of trademark/service mark/patent registered with the Macao Government.
Article 11
- Under the condition that documentary proofs and justifications are provided, an applicant may apply for a domain name that is relevant to its institution/organization name or capable of representing the institution/organization.
- Under the aforesaid condition, an organ of the Macao Government or an organization authorized by the Macao Government to provide public services may also apply for a domain name that is relevant to its institution/organization name or capable of representing the natures of the institution/organization.
- If the aforementioned terms are met, the applied domain name will be published on the website (http://www.monic.net.mo) and the application will be approved if no objection is raised by the public within 30 days.
- Objections that are raised within the publication period will be handled by the University of Macau or by the respective applicant, according to the reasons of the objection.
Article 12
Short term domain name
- Applicants who apply for short term domain name registration under “org.mo” or “edu.mo” must be non-profit institutions or organizations;
- Applicants must submit a brief description of their non-profit services or activities, providing, in particular, information on the their aims and duration;
- Short term domain names may be cancelled upon conclusion of the related services or activities;
- The short term domain name is valid for one year and is renewable if justification is provided.
Article 13
The applicant can complete an on-line Application Form for Domain Name Registration via website (http://www.monic.net.mo) and submits, within five working days after completing this form, the registration fee and the following documents:
- Confirmation letter with the applicant’s authorized signature and chop;
- Application Form for Domain Name Registration;
- Declaration, copies of the updated documents and related materials that are required in Article 4 (1), Article 7, Article 11/or Article 12 and Article 17.
If the applicant fails to submit these documents or the registration fee within the stipulated period, the University has the right to invalidate the respective application without giving notice.
Article 14
Applicants may submit their applications for registration by post, or in person
Article 15
The applicant is responsible for the domain name selected.
Article 16
Upon completing and submitting the Application Form for Domain Name Registration, applicants must warrant that the information they provided, including that provided by their agents, is true and accurate.
Article 17
Applicants must also warrant, in a declaration, that the domain name selected will not harm the interests of any third party nor will it be used for any illegal purpose.
Article 18
The University has the right to reject applications that fail to meet the requirements in these Rules or that commit breach of the law.
Chapter 4
Domain Name Renewal
Article 19
Before the domain name is expired, the applicant can complete an on-line Application Form for Domain Name Renewal via website (http://www.monic.net.mo) and submits, within five working days, the application form, the copies of the updated documents and the annual renewal fee.
Article 20
If the applicant fails to renew the domain name registration after the day of its expiration, the University of Macau has the right to invalidate the domain name registration.
Chapter 5
Change and Cancellation of Registered Domain Names
Article 21
When applying for cancellation of registered domain names, or changing the information of registered domain name, or applying for matters related to registered domain names, applicants must submit an application letter with their authorized signature and chop.
Chapter 6
Fees
Article 22
Following the principle of non-profit-making, the University of Macau provides service with compensation and charges MOP$ 200 for registration or annual renewal of each domain name, being these fees not refundable and bank charges paid by the applicant.
Article 23
Registration or annual renewal fee may be settled by cheque or bank draft which are made payable to the "University of Macau" with the domain name written on the back. The University of Macau will process the application after receiving the payment.
Chapter 7
Composition of Domain Names and Reserved Domain Names
Article 24
A domain name is constituted by English letters (A to Z, upper or lower case), numbers (0 to 9) and “-”, with a maximum of 63 characters. It must begin and end with English letters or numbers and the third and the fourth character must not be “-” at the same time.
Article 25
Reserved Domain Names
Types of reserved domain names are as follows:
- All single-character labels, including single English letters (A to Z), single numbers (0 to 9) and '-';
- All double-character labels;
- Generic Top level Domain Names (gTLDs) and Sponsored Top Level Domain Names (sTLDs) announced by Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN);
- Country or region names announced by Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA);
- Complete name or abbreviation of the cities or regions in the Macao SAR;
- Complete names or abbreviations of the cities or regions in China (only for second level .mo domain name);
- Technical terms (see Appendix I);
- Other reserved domain names (see Appendix II).
Domain Names in the reserved list are not available for public registration, except for the Macao Government or organizations authorized by the Macao Government to provide public services, who are eligible to apply for registration of these domain names if documentary proofs and/or justifications are provided.
Domain Names in the reserved list are subject to change. The University of Macau does not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of the reserved list that is published on the website.
Article 26
Restricted Domain Names
Some "patterns" or words that have special meanings, if found in a domain name to be registered, are subject to special approval or additional documentary proof issued by the related authorities.
Chapter 8
Final Provisions
Article 27
The University of Macau will not involve in any dispute relating to domain name registration and/or operation, or act as a mediator or arbitrator. Parties involved in a dispute will be responsible for settling the dispute and bearing the legal liability for themselves. They may settle the dispute through an arbitration center authorized by the Macao Government and shall comply with its proceedings and rulings. When involved in a dispute on domain name, relevant parties must immediately notify in written form the University of Macau.
Article 28
The University of Macau reserves the right to re-verify the eligibility of the applicant for the domain name registration concerned. Upon finding any ineligibility in the application and/or receiving order from the judicial organs or other authorities, the University of Macau may cease or approve the operation of the respective domain name after receiving documentary proofs and/or justifications provided by the applicant.
Article 29
The University of Macau is not responsible for any legal liability or economic disputes caused by disputes over domain names and/or the operation of domain names.
Article 30
The Regulation is subject to the final decision and the interpretation of the University of Macau and is applicable to registration applications already in process prior to the commencement of the Regulation.
Article 31
Applicants of domain name registration can contact the University of Macau by the following means:
Mail Address:
Domain Name Registration
Information and Communication Technology Office,
Silver Jubilee Building, 1/F, J118
University of Macau,
Av. Padre Tomás Pereira, Taipa,
Macau, China
Website: http://www.monic.net.mo
Email: domain_name_application@umac.mo
Tel: (853) 8397 8637 / (853) 8397 8617