Additional Terms for .gov.uk domains

Please note .gov.uk domain names are subject to additional terms and conditions as laid out by the Government. These are given below and are also available on the guidance link.

Role and Responsibilities of CDDO as the Critical Domain Holder

1. The Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO), acting on behalf of the Minister for the Cabinet Office and as part of the Crown, has rights over the ‘.gov.uk’ domain and subdomains. CDDO is the .gov.uk domain Critical Domain Holder.
2. The Critical Domain Holder does not need to be party to this agreement.
3. The Critical Domain Holder has appointed the .gov.uk Registry Operator.
4. The Critical Domain Holder permits the .gov.uk Registry Operator to enter into Registry Registrar Agreements.
5. The Critical Domain Holder is the only authority that may verify the identity of the Registrant.
6. The Critical Domain Holder approves a .gov.uk domain name for use by the Registrant.
7. The Critical Domain Holder is responsible for setting and maintaining the domain registration and management rules, which are defined in the Apply for your .gov.uk domain name guidance on GOV.UK.
8. The Critical Domain Holder acts as an escalation point and ultimate decision maker in the event of a dispute regarding the management or control of a .gov.uk domain name.
9. The Critical Domain Holder may, at its sole discretion, direct the Registry Operator, Registrar, Registrant or sub-Registrant to take action, including urgent action, to protect a .gov.uk domain name, at any time. Such action may include to suspend, withdraw or transfer a .gov.uk domain name:
   • if the Registrant or sub-Registrant persistently or seriously violates the domain registration and management rules, which are defined in the guidance on GOV.UK.
   • if the Registrant or sub-Registrant persistently fails to respond to communications from the Registrar, Registry Operator or Critical Domain Holder.
   • to resolve disputes which concern the Registrant or sub-Registrant’s registered .gov.uk domain name.
   • if the continued Registration of the Registrant’s .gov.uk domain name poses an immediate critical security threat to the Registrant’s services or other public sector services.
   • if the Registrar persistently fails to meet the Criteria to be a .gov.uk Approved Registrar.
   • if the Registrar is no longer a .gov.uk Approved Registrar as defined by the criteria.
   • if there is any event that might lead to your organisation ceasing trading, such as a voluntary winding up, a bankruptcy, or an insolvency event as defined in section 123 of the Insolvency Act 1986.
   • if required by the law.
10. ...

Role and Responsibilities of the Registry Operator

12. The Registry Operator means the administrative and technical operator of the policies, processes and systems required to manage and operate the .gov.uk domains and subdomains. The Registry Operator is the only operator for gov.uk domains and subdomains, as appointed by the Critical Domain Holder.
13. The Registry Operator must only accept .gov.uk domain registrations from .gov.uk Approved Registrars.

Role and Responsibilities of the Registrar

24. The Registrar must meet the Criteria to be a .gov.uk Approved Registrar at all times.
25. The Registrar must only provide .gov.uk domains directly to the Registrants that they have Registrant Agreements with.

Role and Responsibilities of the Registrant

1. The Registrant is an entity which has registered a .gov.uk domain name in the .gov.uk Registry.
2. The Registrant must remain in legal control of their .gov.uk domain name at all times.

Role and Responsibilities of the Sub-Registrant

39. The sub-Registrant is an entity which has been given a lower-level domain from a .gov.uk Registrant.
40. The sub-Registrant must protect its .gov.uk domain name by following the domain registration and management rules, which are defined in the Apply for your .gov.uk domain name guidance that apply to them.