American domain name embargo on ccTLD

Selecting a Corporate Registrar is a hard thing to do, service, price, ccTLD covered, accreditations, knowledge, information, security… It is even harder if your plan is to have your brand protected in Cuba, Iran or Sudan.

What about the "RIGHT" to register a specific domain name?

According to the United States department of the treasury there are regions American Registrars are not authorized to work with. So what does it mean?

According to the Office of Foreign Assets Control (http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/), a brand cannot secure its domain names on the complete range of extensions existing if its Corporate Registrar is American. In its Sanction Programs (http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/regulations/facreg.pdf), the foreign assets control regulations for the corporate registration industry says: "As of October 2004,
OFAC administered and enforced comprehensive sanctions programs involving three countries: Cuba, Iran, and Sudan.

Unless authorized by OFAC, no U.S. individual or entity can do business with individuals or entities (including government institutions) in those countries, or individuals or entities acting for or on behalf of those countries."

OFAC was kind enough to answer my questions:
"If your registrar is a U.S. company, it is subject to the laws of the United States. U.S. sanctions regulations prohibit most financial transactions related to Cuba and Iran, including the registration of domain names. Domain names in Burma and Sudan would be subject to these restrictions as well."

Basically speaking, you cannot secure your online brand in Cuba, Iran, Sudan if your Corporate Registrar is American. Thinking about registering yourbrand.CU, yourbrand.IR or yourbrand.SD?

Well, think twice and…take your time.

.TEL is coming !

And it is a serious hit: A “very” serious HIT in the domain name industry.
For the first time companies and particulars won’t be suggested “just another domain name” they will have to pay interest in. This time .TEL is a tool dedicated to last and to be used.
.TEL is the first opportunity to be “found” online: to have a specific contact page standardized for all. We all received emails to update our information on various web sites, we all have a profile on a web site (MSN, FaceBook, Orkut, LinkedIn…) but no standard exists today to be part of a same directory. .TEL is a solution to this.
I tried the tool myself: http://guillon.vip.tel
It is simple and easy to set up. No html knowledge required or whatsoever: just forms to fill in and menus to enable or not services.
I believe particulars will start to have a high interest in .TEL. What about Corporations:

• A unique entry point to contact Corporations: no more contact page to search for on corporation web site but a simple link to the .TEL Url
• A fantastic to synchronize address books directly at the Registry!
• Géo-localization when necessary
• More audience and traffic to your web Site: one more back link
• Access to a worldwide directory and once again “standardized” for a better comprehension

.TEL is a revolution: don’t miss it ;-)