1. What is a Domain Name?

Domain names are human-friendly forms of Internet addresses which are used to identify web sites. For example, the domain name “saraswatnet.com” is used to locate the website of Saraswat & Associates at http://www.saraswatnet.com .

2. What are the Top Level Domain Names?

Top Level Domain Names identify the source of a domain name. These are further divided in two categories:

Generic Top Level Domain Name(gTLD)- The gTLD identifies the nature of a web site i.e. com – commercial, net – networks, org – organizations. In addition, seven new gTLDs were also selected by ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) on November 16, 2000 . These are: .aero (for the entire aviation community); .biz (for business purposes); .coop (for cooperatives); .info (unrestricted); .museum (for museums); .name (for personal names); .pro (for professionals).

Country Code Top Level Domain Name(ccTLD)- These are associated with specific countries and administered independently by nationally designated registration authorities . There are currently 243 ccTLDs reflected in the database of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). For example, .in- India, .it- Italy, .br- Brazil etc.

3. What is the Domain Name System(DNS)?

The DNS (Domain Name System) is a global addressing system which locates any specific domain name and translates the same into IP( Internet Protocol) address and vice versa. With this translation it is possible to locate the server on which a specific web page resides. For example, a domain name “saraswatnet.com” is a unique alias for a numeric IP address which is an actual physical point on the Internet.

4. Can I register my domain name as a trademark?

Yes, you can and it is highly recommended. By registering your domain as a Registered Trademark you protect not only the name of your domain, but you also avoid having third parties register similar domain names to your trademark.

5. Is comprehensive search necessary before registering a domain name?

If you are going to register a domain name, it is recommended to search that such domain name should not infringe the trade mark of any person already registered or pending for registration. The comprehensive search helps you to avoid future litigations.