Legal Info - Internet Domains

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <title>Legal Info - Internet Domains</title> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/export/system/modules/ch.SWITCH.ocms.www/resources/css/slim.css" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/export/system/modules/ch.SWITCH.ocms.subsite/resources/css/sub.css" /><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="all" href="/export/sites/default/styles.css" /> <script src="/export/system/modules/ch.SWITCH.ocms.subsite/resources/js-slim/sub-slim.js" type="text/javascript" ></script><meta name="description" content="Legal basis and Dispute Resolution Service for .ch domain names"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/export/system/modules/ch.SWITCH.ocms.www/resources/images/site_icons/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/export/system/modules/ch.SWITCH.ocms.www/resources/images/site_icons/apple-touch-icon.png" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="57x57" href="/export/system/modules/ch.SWITCH.ocms.www/resources/images/site_icons/apple-touch-icon-57x57.png" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="72x72" href="/export/system/modules/ch.SWITCH.ocms.www/resources/images/site_icons/apple-touch-icon-72x72.png" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="76x76" href="/export/system/modules/ch.SWITCH.ocms.www/resources/images/site_icons/apple-touch-icon-76x76.png" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="114x114" href="/export/system/modules/ch.SWITCH.ocms.www/resources/images/site_icons/apple-touch-icon-114x114.png" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="120x120" href="/export/system/modules/ch.SWITCH.ocms.www/resources/images/site_icons/apple-touch-icon-120x120.png" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="144x144" href="/export/system/modules/ch.SWITCH.ocms.www/resources/images/site_icons/apple-touch-icon-144x144.png" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="152x152" href="/export/system/modules/ch.SWITCH.ocms.www/resources/images/site_icons/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png" /> </head> <body> <div class="container"> <div class="swi-subsite-logo-container"> <a href="https://www.switch.ch/en/"><img height="46" width="180" src="/export/system/modules/ch.SWITCH.ocms.www/resources/images/logoHi.png" alt=""></a>  <ul class="nav nav-pills pull-right swi-nav-pills-app-meta hidden-xs"> <li class="dropdown"> <a href="#" class="dropdown-toggle" data-toggle="dropdown">EN <span class="swi-link-caret"></span></a> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <li><a href="/de/terms/">DE</a></li> <li><a href="/fr/terms/">FR</a></li> <li><a href="/it/terms/">IT</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul>  </div> <nav class="navbar navbar-default swi-navbar-subsite" role="navigation"> <div class="container-fluid">  <div class="navbar-header"> <button type="button" class="navbar-toggle" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#bs-example-navbar-collapse-1"> <span class="sr-only">Toggle navigation</span> <span class="icon-bar"></span> <span class="icon-bar"></span> <span class="icon-bar"></span> </button> <a class="navbar-brand" href="/">Internet Domains</a> </div>  <div class="collapse navbar-collapse" id="bs-example-navbar-collapse-1"> <ul class="nav navbar-nav"> <li class=" "> <a href="/whois/">Lookup</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/registrars/">Registrars</a> </li> <li class="active "> <a href="/terms/">Legal Info</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/security/">Security</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/support/">Support</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/statistics/">Statistics</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/about/">About Us</a> </li> <li class="dropdown visible-xs"> <a href="#" class="dropdown-toggle" data-toggle="dropdown">EN <span class="swi-link-caret"></span></a> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <li><a href="/de/terms/">DE</a></li> <li><a href="/fr/terms/">FR</a></li> <li><a href="/it/terms/">IT</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> <div id="jumbotron" > <div>  <div data-bg-url="/export/shared/.content/images/jumbo_ch.jpg" class="jumbotron swi-jumbotron swi-jumbotron-bright-text swi-jumbotron-www "> <div class="container swi-jumbotron-content"> <div class="swi-inner"> <h1 >Legal Information</h1> <p class="lead">Legal basis and Dispute Resolution Service for .ch domain names</p> </div> </div> </div></div> </div> <div class="container swi-container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-8"> <div class="swi-tree visible-xs"> <ul> <li class="active"><a href="/terms/">Legal Info</a></li> <li><a href="/terms/agb/">General Terms and Conditions</a></li> <li><a href="/terms/aup/">Acceptable Use Policy</a></li> <li><a href="/terms/disputes/">Dispute Resolution</a> <ul> <li><a href="/terms/disputes/proceedings/">Proceedings</a></li> <li><a href="/terms/disputes/rules/">Dispute Resolution Rules</a></li> <li><a href="/terms/disputes/rules_of_procedure/">Rules of Procedure</a></li> <li><a href="/terms/disputes/provider/">Service Provider</a></li> <li><a href="/terms/disputes/decisions/">Decisions and Statistics</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> <div id="content" ><div> <div ><h3>By order of the Federal Office of Communications</h3> <p>Switch operates the .ch domain name registry on behalf of the <a href="https://www.bakom.admin.ch/bakom/de/home/digital-und-internet/internet/internet-domain-namen/ch-internetadressen.html">Federal Office of Communications OFCOM</a>. As an independent foundation, Switch puts its longstanding experience and significant technical expertise to work to fulfil this demanding task. <a href="/about/">Find out more about Switch as a registry</a></p></div></div> <div> <div class="panel-group acc-v2" id="accordion-04d8ec8f-c778-11eb-a8c5-525400a7a801"> <div class="panel panel-default"> <div class="panel-heading"> <h4 class="panel-title"> <a class="accordion-toggle" data-toggle="collapse" data-parent="#accordion-04d8ec8f-c778-11eb-a8c5-525400a7a801" href="#collapse-04d8ec8f-c778-11eb-a8c5-525400a7a801-1"> General Terms and Conditions of Switch </a> </h4> </div> <div id="collapse-04d8ec8f-c778-11eb-a8c5-525400a7a801-1" class="panel-collapse collapse" style="height: auto;"> <div class="panel-body" ><div> <div ><p><strong><a href="/terms/agb/">General Terms and Conditions</a></strong> (GTC) for the registration and administration of domain names under the domain ".ch" and ".li"</p> <p><a title="SWITCH_AGB_en" href="/export/shared/.content/files/SWITCH_AGB_en.pdf"><strong>General Terms and Conditions (PDF)</strong></a></p></div></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="panel panel-default"> <div class="panel-heading"> <h4 class="panel-title"> <a class="accordion-toggle" data-toggle="collapse" data-parent="#accordion-04d8ec8f-c778-11eb-a8c5-525400a7a801" href="#collapse-04d8ec8f-c778-11eb-a8c5-525400a7a801-2"> Acceptable Use Policy </a> </h4> </div> <div id="collapse-04d8ec8f-c778-11eb-a8c5-525400a7a801-2" class="panel-collapse collapse" style="height: 0px;"> <div class="panel-body" ><div> <div ><p><strong><a href="/terms/aup/">Acceptable Use Policy</a></strong></p> <p>Our Acceptable Use Policy governs the conditions for the use of the Domain Name Lookup to query or process personal data.</p></div></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="panel panel-default"> <div class="panel-heading"> <h4 class="panel-title"> <a class="accordion-toggle" data-toggle="collapse" data-parent="#accordion-04d8ec8f-c778-11eb-a8c5-525400a7a801" href="#collapse-04d8ec8f-c778-11eb-a8c5-525400a7a801-3"> Basis in Swiss Law </a> </h4> </div> <div id="collapse-04d8ec8f-c778-11eb-a8c5-525400a7a801-3" class="panel-collapse collapse" style="height: 0px;"> <div class="panel-body" ><div> <div ><p><strong><a href="https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2014/701/en">Ordinance on Internet Domains (OID)</a></strong></p> <p><a title="TAV_v8_de" href="/export/shared/.content/files/TAV_v8_de.pdf"><strong>Technische und administrative Vorschriften</strong> betreffend die Zuteilung und Verwaltung der Domain-Namen der zweiten Ebene, die der Internet-Domain ".ch" untergeordnet sind (TAV)</a></p></div></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="panel panel-default"> <div class="panel-heading"> <h4 class="panel-title"> <a class="accordion-toggle" data-toggle="collapse" data-parent="#accordion-04d8ec8f-c778-11eb-a8c5-525400a7a801" href="#collapse-04d8ec8f-c778-11eb-a8c5-525400a7a801-4"> Revocation and Blocking of Domain Names </a> </h4> </div> <div id="collapse-04d8ec8f-c778-11eb-a8c5-525400a7a801-4" class="panel-collapse collapse" style="height: 0px;"> <div class="panel-body" ><div> <div ><p><strong>Revocation and blocking of .ch domain names - Guidelines for authorities</strong></p> <p>In cases of criminal or administrative proceedings, authorities may approach Switch with requests to revoke or block domain names. In collaboration with OFCOM, Switch has developed guidelines for how an authority should proceed in such cases and what scope for action is available to Switch when responding to instructions from authorities.</p> <p>Interested authorities can request the guidelines in German, French or Italian by email from <a href="mailto:legal@switch.ch">legal@switch.ch</a>.</p></div></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="panel panel-default"> <div class="panel-heading"> <h4 class="panel-title"> <a class="accordion-toggle" data-toggle="collapse" data-parent="#accordion-04d8ec8f-c778-11eb-a8c5-525400a7a801" href="#collapse-04d8ec8f-c778-11eb-a8c5-525400a7a801-5"> Third-party Rights </a> </h4> </div> <div id="collapse-04d8ec8f-c778-11eb-a8c5-525400a7a801-5" class="panel-collapse collapse" style="height: 0px;"> <div class="panel-body" ><div> <div ><p>When a new domain name is registered, no check is made as to whether it violates any third-party rights. You are responsible for ensuring that your chosen domain name does not violate any rights pertaining to names, trademarks or other distinguishing symbols. Certain terms are legally protected. In particular, the name of a political commune in Switzerland may only be registered by that commune.</p> <p>The following links will aid your research:</p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.zefix.ch/">www.zefix.ch</a></strong> Central Business Names Index of Switzerland</p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.swissreg.ch">www.swissreg.ch</a></strong> Search for Swiss trademarks and applications in the online database of the Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IGE). This is not a substitute for professional searches because it is not possible to search for similar trademarks and international trademarks with protection in Switzerland.<br />Professional trademark searches (including searches for similar trademarks and international trademarks with protection in Switzerland) are available privately or through the IGE.</p></div></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="panel panel-default"> <div class="panel-heading"> <h4 class="panel-title"> <a class="accordion-toggle" data-toggle="collapse" data-parent="#accordion-04d8ec8f-c778-11eb-a8c5-525400a7a801" href="#collapse-04d8ec8f-c778-11eb-a8c5-525400a7a801-6"> Dispute Resolution Service </a> </h4> </div> <div id="collapse-04d8ec8f-c778-11eb-a8c5-525400a7a801-6" class="panel-collapse collapse" style="height: 0px;"> <div class="panel-body" ><div> <div ><p>The Dispute Resolution Service for .ch domain names was set up to resolve disputes over the rights to domain names.</p> <p><strong><a href="/terms/disputes/">More on the Dispute Resolution Service</a></strong></p></div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div></div> </div> <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-4 swi-subsite-sidebar"> <div class="swi-tree hidden-xs"> <ul> <li class="active"><a href="/terms/">Legal Info</a></li> <li><a href="/terms/agb/">General Terms and Conditions</a></li> <li><a href="/terms/aup/">Acceptable Use Policy</a></li> <li><a href="/terms/disputes/">Dispute Resolution</a> <ul> <li><a href="/terms/disputes/proceedings/">Proceedings</a></li> <li><a href="/terms/disputes/rules/">Dispute Resolution Rules</a></li> <li><a href="/terms/disputes/rules_of_procedure/">Rules of Procedure</a></li> <li><a href="/terms/disputes/provider/">Service Provider</a></li> <li><a href="/terms/disputes/decisions/">Decisions and Statistics</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> <div id="context" > <div>  <div class="swi-sidebar-box swi-sidebar-box-grey"> <div class="swi-inner"> <div><h3 >Registrars for .ch</h3></div> <div ><p><strong>Registering new .ch domain names:</strong> Please select a registrar. <br /><strong>Domain names that are already registered:</strong> Please contact the registrar administering your domain name for any changes.</p></div> <a class="noicon btn btn-default swi-btn" href="/registrars/">List of all registrars</a> </div> </div> </div> <div>  <div class="swi-sidebar-box swi-sidebar-box-grey"> <div class="swi-inner"> <div><h3 >Domain Name Lookup</h3></div> <div ><p>Is the domain name you want still available?</p> <p>Who is the registrar of your domain name?</p></div> <a class="noicon btn btn-default swi-btn" href="/whois/">Domain Name Lookup</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <footer class="swi-footer-bottom swi-footer-bottom-subsite hidden-print"> <div class="container clearfix"> <div class="swi-footer-breadcrumb pull-left"> <ol class="breadcrumb"> <li><a href="/about/disclaimer/">Legal notice</a></li> <li><a href="/about/imprint/">Imprint</a></li> </ol> </div> <div class="swi-footer-copyright-subsite pull-right"> © 2025 for content at Switch </div> </div> </footer>  <script type="text/javascript"> var _paq = _paq || []; _paq.push(['trackPageView']); _paq.push(['enableLinkTracking']); (function() { var u=(("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https" : "http") + "://www.switch.ch/tracker/"; _paq.push(['setTrackerUrl', u+'piwik.php']); _paq.push(['setSiteId', 2]); var d=document, g=d.createElement('script'), s=d.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; g.type='text/javascript'; g.defer=true; g.async=true; g.src=u+'piwik.js'; s.parentNode.insertBefore(g,s); })(); </script> <noscript><p><img src="https://www.switch.ch/tracker/piwik.php?idsite=2" style="border:0;" alt="" /></p></noscript>  </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Legal Info - Internet Domains