Further liberalization of .lu domain names

Restena (the .lu-registry) announced a set of new rules for .lu domain name registrations. .lu is the country code extension for Luxembourg. The changes involve opening up for IDN’s (domain names with special characters in them, like for example a letter with an accent on) and the removal of the obligation to have an administrative contact in Luxembourg.

For the release of IDN, there will first be a two-month sunrise period starting February 1st 2010. Only current holders of a registered .lu domain name will be able to apply for the same name, but in IDN-version with appropriate accents.
On April 1st 2010, there will be a landrush directly followed by general availability of IDN .lu domain names.

More information, pricing and pre-registrations, should be available during the first weeks of 2010.

On February 1st 2010, Restena will also lift the obligation to have a local administrative contact in Luxembourg for .lu domain names. So “local presence” will no longer be needed when registering a .lu domain name.

Furthermore, domain names that currently are blocked, will also become available for registration during 2010. This includes domain names that had been blocked for registration at a time when “explicit” .lu domain names where not allowed. Names like porn.lu and xxx.lu have for example been blocked for registrations because of a request about 10 years ago when rude domain names where not allowed by Restena. That old rule has been changed long ago, but all domain names for which at least one request was received before this rule was lifted, still remained blocked.
Domain names containing a Luxembourg municipality or village name will become available for general registration starting January 1st 2011. For the moment, they are reserved for exclusive registration by the village or municipality mentioned in the domain name.