.eco Eligibility Policy

Updated:

Eligibility Policy

In line with .eco Purpose and Principles, all .eco domain names will be registered with “Server Hold” status until the Registrant affirms their Eligibility (as defined by this .eco Eligibility Policy) when completing their Eco Profile.

Once a Registrar submits a .eco domain name registration request to the Registry, the Registry will contact the Registrant by email (with a copy to the Registrant’s Registrar) inviting them to complete an Eco Profile affirming their Eligibility OR where a different person or entity is using the .eco domain name (typically where the domain name owner is different from the website owner), the Eligibility of the User. Affirming Eligibility forms part of the Minimum Requirements for completion of the Eco Profile and Activation of a .eco domain name.

Eligibility through Membership of the .eco Organization

The Dot ECO Global Community Organization (“the “.eco Organization”) is incorporated under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act. The .eco Organization is the representative body of the global environmental community (the “Community”) in relation to .eco. It supports the Community’s goals of transparency, inclusiveness and improvement, and the management of .eco for the long-term benefit of the Community.

During the creation of a .eco Profile all .eco Registrants will be offered free membership in the .eco Organization. According to its bylaws, membership in the .eco Organization is open to entities and natural persons that are committed to a respectful, responsible and sustainable use of the environment.

Membership of the .eco Organization confers Eligibility upon .eco Registrants. The .eco Organization falls within Eligibility Category 1(a) below and provides access to business entities through Eligibility Category 2(a)(i) below and natural persons through Eligibility Category 4(a) below.

Other Eligibility Categories

Organizations

  1. Not-for-profit mission-based organizations, both small and large, that work for the good of the planet. Specific criteria include:

    • Not-for-profit environmental organizations that affirm and can provide proof on request of their: Environmental mission/purpose and their legal status; OR,
    • Accreditation as such by United Nations agencies.
  2. Businesses of all sizes committed to providing products and services that encourage positive environmental change. Specific criteria include: For-profit business entities that affirm and can provide proof on request of the following:

    • Membership in environmental organizations and initiatives including: i) Organizations that fall under the categories in 1(a) or (b); or ii) The United Nations Global Compact; or iii) Other memberships approved by the .eco Organization
    • Accreditation by voluntary environmental certifications, standards and reporting systems of: i) Organizations that fall under the categories in 1(a) or (b); or ii) UN member states, national and sub-national governmental bodies and entities; or iii) The International Organization for Standardization; or iv) Other certification, standards and reporting systems approved by the .eco Organization.
  3. Government bodies that support sustainability through programs, infrastructure and funding amongst other policies and actions. Specific criteria include: Governments, including environment-related departments and initiatives of UN member states, national and sub-national governmental bodies, and UN bodies.

  4. People who participate in and support environmental change through membership, financial support or donating their time, as well environmental professionals who contribute to positive environmental change through their work. Specific criteria include: Natural persons that:

    • affirm and can provide proof on request of membership of, financial support for, volunteer time for, or accreditation by organizations within categories in 1(a) or (b); or,
    • are holders of certified environmental professional qualifications approved by the .eco Organization; or c) are academics or scientists employed by or affiliated with recognized universities.
  5. Farms and other producers of agricultural products that achieve EU organic production and labelling standards. Specific criteria: Any entity providing evidence of full compliance with the requirements of European Union Regulation (EC) No 834/20071, shall be eligible to become a .eco Registrant.

A Commitment to Comply with Applicable Consumer Protection Laws and Regulations

Affirming eligibility also requires all .eco Registrants to acknowledge when completing their Eco Profile they will comply with applicable consumer protection laws and regulations when the word “eco” is used to describe environmental characteristics or to imply environmental benefit associated with a product or service.

Minimum requirements to activate a .eco domain registration policy

To Activate a .eco domain name (i.e., have its Registry status changed from “Server Hold” to “Delegated”), the .eco Registrant or someone duly authorised by the .eco Registrant must complete the following two (2) steps within the .eco domain name’s Eco Profile.

  1. Affirm the Eligibility of the .eco Registrant (OR where a different person or entity is using the .eco domain name, typically where the domain name owner is different from the website owner, the Eligibility of the User).
  2. Take a pledge to show their commitment to uphold the Purpose and Principles of .eco (“the Pledge”):

“I/we pledge to support positive change for the planet and to be honest when sharing information on their environmental actions.”

These Minimum Requirements apply to all .eco domain names, including those registered in the Sunrise Period.

Eco profile policy

In addition to affirming Eligibility for a .eco domain and taking the Pledge, the Eco Profile also provides the opportunity for a .eco Registrant (or User) to enter optional additional information about their environmental interests and activities.

.Eco Registrants (or Users) will be asked questions as part of the completion of their Eco Profile on their efforts to support environmental, goals, values and interests. Questions will be tailored to the nature of the Eligibility of the .eco Registrant (or User) and will employ simple methods designed to foster engagement and action and minimize abandonment.

Answers to these questions will be displayed on the respective .eco domain name’s Eco Profile within the Eco System.

Corresponding Eco Profiles should be accessible via a link from all websites resolving from a .eco domain name, and will also be searchable and accessible through the Eco System.

The Eco System will create a unique resource of freely available, current environmental information.

.Eco Registrants (or Users) of Activated .eco domain name are required to:

The Registry will report annually on the Eco System to the .eco Organization.

Eco profile compliance policy

Eco Profile Verification

In order to maintain the integrity of the Eco Profiles and Eco System the .eco Registry will proactively verify for compliance with the .eco Eligibility and Eco Profile Policies a proportion of the Eco Profiles of Activated .eco domain names.

The Registry may notify Registrants and Users with Eco Profiles that contain data that the Registry finds during its verification to be inaccurate, misleading or in any other ways problematic; such findings being at the sole discretion of the Registry. The Registry will provide guidance by email to the Registrant or User (with a copy to the Registrant’s Registrar) on curing such deficiencies and in doing so will provide at least two (2) reminders in that regard.

Third Party Complaints

The Eco System provides a facility for other .eco Registrants and Users and the public to report inaccurate, misleading or in any other ways problematic Eco Profile content to the Registry. At its sole discretion the Registry will evaluate such reports. The Registry may provide guidance by email to the respective Registrant or User (with a copy to the Registrant’s Registrar) on curing such deficiencies in their Eco Profile and in doing so will provide at least two (2) reminders in that regard.

Sanctions

In the case of both Eco Profile Verification carried out by the Registry or Third Party Complaints, the Registry may place on “Server Hold” status .eco domain names with Eco Profiles that have been provided curative guidance by the Registry and after at least two (2) reminders retain deficiencies, such deficiencies being at the sole discretion of the Registry. In such cases the .eco Registrant will be notified accordingly by the Registry (with a copy to the Registrant’s Registrar).

In addition, the Registry reserves the right to immediately place on “Server Hold” status .eco domain names with Eco Profiles that in its sole discretion risk causing confusion or detriment to the Registry, Registrants, Users or members of the public.

These sanctions do not limit the applicability of or any actions available to the Registry under the .Eco Acceptable Use Policy and in the event of conflict between the .Eco Acceptable Use Policy and the .Eco Compliance policy the .Eco Acceptable Use Policy will prevail.

Community Eligibility Dispute Resolution (“CEDR”)

Registrants of .Eco domain names on “Server Hold” status as an outcome of Eco Profile Verification by the Registry or a Third Party Complaint may refer the Eco Profile Verification or Third Party Complaint, as applicable, to CEDR. Such Registrants will be provided with instructions (with a copy to the Registrant’s Registrar) on instigating CEDR.

Third Party Complainants with complaints related to Eco Profiles of Active .eco domain names (i.e. .eco domain name registrations not on “Server Hold” status) which are not resolved to the satisfaction of the Third Party Complainant through the Third Party Complaints process may refer the Third Party Complaint to CEDR. Such Third Party Complainants will be provided with instructions on instigating CEDR.

The First Stage of CEDR

The first stage of CEDR will consist of the Registry (or a party contracted by the Registry) reviewing the relevant Eco Profile and relevant correspondence between the Registry and the .eco Registrant and/or Third Party Complainant, as applicable, and provide a report to the .eco Registrant and/or Third Party Complainant, as applicable, setting out its review of the matter and its reasoning as to why the domain will either remain on “Server Hold” or Activated status or have its status changed to “Server Hold” or Activated.

The Second/Final Stage of CEDR

If the First Stage of CEDR does not resolve the matter to the satisfaction of the .eco Registrant or the Third Party Complainant, as applicable, they will have the opportunity through the Registry with instructions provided at the time by the Registry, with a copy to the Registrant’s Registrar where applicable, to refer the matter to an independent arbiter approved and appointed by the Registry. This referral will require the payment of a fee by the referrer and the referrer must submit a written explanation to the arbiter why the referrer believes that the report and outcome from the First Stage of CEDR is incorrect. The arbiter will then issue to the referrer and the Registry its findings and guidance on the matter and the Registry will act accordingly.

The .eco Registrant and/or the Third Party Complainant, as applicable, agrees to be bound by the outcome of the Second Stage of CEDR and will have no further recourse under the .eco Policies.

The Registry reserves the exclusive right should the Second Stage of CEDR not resolve the matter to the satisfaction of the Registry to refer the matter to the .eco Organization for a final decision, which will be binding on the Registry and on the .eco Registrant and/or the Third Party Complainant, as applicable.

All complaints under this Eco Profile compliance policy including those that result in CEDR or a decision by the .eco Organization will relate only to the eco profile content and the registry sanction under this Eco Profile Compliance Policy of placing the relevant .eco domain on “Server Hold”. The registrant’s registration agreement with its registrar is unrelated and unaffected and registrars are not required to take any action but registrars will be copied on all related correspondence, which will be by email.

Transparency

The Registry’s process for evaluating and resolving complaints and results of disputes under this Eco Profile Compliance Policy will be made public. An annual report of all complaints and actions taken will be made available to the .eco Organization.

Domain Name Cancellation

.Eco domain names that have been on “Server Hold” status for longer than twelve (12) months either from their date of registration or after Activation due to Eco Profile Policy Sanctions or for other reasons may be subject to cancellation by the Registry. Registrants of such .eco domain names will be given at least thirty (30) and then ten (10) days’ notice by email (with a copy to the Registrant’s Registrar) requesting them to Activate the .Eco domain name and providing final curative guidance if the .eco domain name is in Server Hold status because of Eco Profile Policy Sanctions before such cancellation takes effect.