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jbonham
03-11-2005, 09:02 PM
Hi,
Wondering if it is possible/legal to use a .org site for ecommerce.
The name I want for .com is already taken. And I really like the name.
I am not aware of any .org site being used for ecommerce.
Any input appreciated.
thanks
jbonham
Bluetagpizza
03-11-2005, 09:27 PM
I don't know about the legal view but in my humble opinion it would be unethical to use the .org domain for a commercial site. Besides, just think of the confusion that could result if a user typed .com instead of .org!
AdamGundry
03-12-2005, 06:22 AM
There are no restrictions on the .org TLD, so you can use it for an ecommerce site if you wish, and I don't think it is unethical to do so. However, Bluetagpizza makes a good point that customer confusion could result, and there might also be a problem if the other site has trademarked the name.
Adam
stacywacy
03-12-2005, 01:46 PM
Hi, jbonham
I have a .Org Website and before I bought it I made sure I read all the information/rules regarding .Orgs. One of those rules is that it cannot be a commercial Website. Plus, if you do get a .Org you have to make sure you differentiate it from the .com, or people will confuse the two.
stacywacy
03-12-2005, 01:53 PM
PIR (http://www.pir.org)
AdamGundry
03-12-2005, 02:29 PM
Originally posted by stacywacy
One of those rules is that it cannot be a commercial Website.
No such rule exists in the general case. According to the PIR general FAQ (http://www.pir.org/faqs/general#notforprofits):
.ORG has been an open and unrestricted domain since it was created in the 1980s. ICANN has therefore decided (and PIR agrees) that .ORG should remain an open and unrestricted domain.
While the TLD is recommended for use by noncommercial organisations, it is not restricted to them (nor should it be, IMHO). Plenty of companies operate .org domains, often as a redirect to their main site.
There are reasons against using a .org site for ecommerce, but this isn't one of them.
Adam
stacywacy
03-12-2005, 02:43 PM
I can only go by what I read when I bought my .Org domain name. At the time, it specifically said it could not be a commercial Website. By unrestricted domain, they mean anyone can buy one; it doesn't have to be a non-profit organization.
Sorry, what I mean is, when I bought my domain name, my Web host gave me the rules/restrictions regarding .Orgs. That's where I read that it can't be a commercial Website.