Providing you aren't taking someone else's trademark or otherwise infringing on their legal rights, You, the applicant, are the owner of the domain name. Shop Alberta acts as a service agency only and has no interests in or claims on the name. The owner (known to InterNIC as the Administrative Contact) has full authority and responsibility for the domain name and its use.

The following is part of InterNIC's domain registration policy and should be read carefully:

"By applying for the domain name and through the use or continued use of the domain name, the applicant agrees to be bound by the terms of NSI's then current domain name policy (the 'Policy Statement') which is available at ftp://rs.internic.net/policy/internic.domain.policy.txt. The applicant acknowledges and agrees that NSI may change the terms and conditions of the Policy Statement from time to time as provided in the Policy Statement.

"The applicant agrees that if the use of the domain name is challenged by any third party, or if any dispute arises under this Registration Agreement, as amended, the applicant will abide by the procedures specified in the Policy Statement.

"This Registration Agreement shall be governed in all respects by and construed in accordance with the laws of Canada and of the Province of Alberta, without respect to its conflict of law rules. This Registration Agreement is the complete and exclusive agreement of the applicant and NSI ("parties") regarding domain names. It supersedes, and its terms govern, all prior proposals, agreements, or other communications between the parties. This Registration Agreement may only be amended as provided in the Policy Statement."

There is nothing preventing your competition from registering your trade name on-line!While this practice in un-ethical and often illegal, there is nothing preventing it. In a famous case, the Princeton Test-Preparation company reserved the domain name Kaplan.com to block the Stanly Kaplan Test-Preparation company from taking their business on-line. Another famous example was when a young cutting-edge journalist, Joshua Quittner, registered McDonalds.com and held it ransom for $20,000 US or to the highest bidder.

When some companies are finally ready to take the leap to marketing on-line, they are sad to realize that another company has registered their domain name by pure chance. When Miller beer went to register Miller.Com, they found that it had already been register by a computer consulting company called Miller's computer consulting. You can never be sure what will happen to your Internet Domain Name unless you own it!

Well, you may have to work with them to get your Internet Domain Name back. When you run into a situation when your Internet Name has been captured, you basically have three choices:

1. Pay the ransom or settle for money.
2. Settle for another Internet Domain Name.
3. SUE!

Good question. Your only protection for your on-line name is to register it now! This will insure that your name will be ready for you when you are ready to peruse your on-line presence. For only $75 Canadian you can buy your Domain name and protect it from someone else registering it! We even offer services where you can begin the use of your Domain Name now to receive mail to your current E-mail address. This will allow you to begin having your domain name placed on your printed material. For Example ceo@yourcomapny.com will be able to forward E-mail to whatever E-mail address you are using now! Don't wait and register today!

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