So who’s in charge and what are the key steps?
The China Internet Network Information Centre (CNNIC) is the official Chinese government body to register a domain name in China. All .cn domain name registrations are centralized through here, although both domestic and overseas registrars can carry out the registration process. From this point, it takes approximately 15 days for the CNNIC to review the application and make a decision. This process is fairly straightforward as long as the selected domain name has not been registered already and the company actually exists. This ease of process can be both good and bad. Good in the sense that no extensive paperwork is required; bad in that any company could utilize your company’s name as its own.
How do I register my company’s .cn domain name?
In all fairness, there are many companies providing this kind of service. One might argue that there are even many companies who are, in theory, specialists in domain name registration. However, given the market is so saturated, it is extremely hard to separate the wheat from the chaff. Many companies have lost countless hours and huge sums of money when large registries simply do not deliver and the charges escalate as they are not transparent about the cost of getting the registration approved by the Chinese authorities.
What should I look for in my .cn registrar?
- An established company that has been in business for several years, with a solid client base/track record
- Expertise on the Chinese market and changing regulations
- Accessible team in case you have any questions/concerns, or your company’s needs change
- CNNIC approved (check here)
- Representation of your .cn domain name on your behalf (for now, regulations do not allow foreign companies to directly own .cn domains)
- Transparent cost structure (ideally, a fixed fee)
Registering your .cn domain should be a seamless process, if you use the right registrar. ChinaContact is now happy to provide such services, click here for more information.
However, bear in mind that time is ticking given anybody could use your company’s name, and then you’ll have to revert to dispute resolution.
