Digital Autonomy Also Involves Your Domain Name

Digital autonomy is high on the agenda. Geopolitical tensions, dependence on large technology companies, and new European legislation are making entrepreneurs more aware of how dependent they are on digital suppliers and infrastructure. Recent research by SIDN also shows that entrepreneurs increasingly value digital resilience and autonomy.

When it comes to digital autonomy, organisations primarily look at cloud platforms, software, or social media. A small but important building block of that digital infrastructure often remains overlooked: the domain name.

A Domain Name Is More Than a Web Address

A domain name enables internet users to find websites, email servers, and other online services. In a sense, a domain name gives an organisation a form of digital autonomy: the holder decides which services are active behind the domain and how they are configured. Yet many entrepreneurs know surprisingly little about the background of their domain name. Confusion is particularly common around country code domains (so-called ccTLDs).

.ai Is Not an AI Domain, .me Is Not Personal

Take .ai, for example. Many entrepreneurs directly associate this extension with artificial intelligence. In recent years, the number of registrations has exploded. In reality, .ai is the country code domain (ccTLD) of Anguilla, an island in the Caribbean. Located next to Sint Maarten. The same applies to Montenegro's extension (.me). This is often used to convey a personal message, as with domain names like tikkie.me or feliciteer.me.

Even more striking is .tv, the country code domain of Tuvalu, an island nation in the Pacific Ocean with approximately 11,000 inhabitants. Because .tv is globally associated with streaming and online video (think of Twitch.tv), the extension has become one of the country's most important sources of income. Management has been outsourced to the American company Verisign, which pays Tuvalu millions of dollars annually for the license.

Most Domains Are Reliable

This doesn't have to be a problem: these extensions are generally professionally managed and have built a strong international reputation. A few years ago, for example, the management of .ai was transferred to a professional service provider because the small registry on the island could no longer handle the influx of registrations. .me is also managed by a professional American party. And with .tv, the arrangement with Verisign ensures that the extension is managed at the same technical and operational level as .com.

Dependency Only Becomes Visible During an Incident

However, it is wise to realise that behind every domain extension lies its own registry, legal framework, and dispute resolution procedure. Organisations often only realise how these dependencies work when something goes wrong.

This recently became visible with Telegram. The popular messaging service uses t.me as a shortened URL for users, groups, and channels. On 13 July 2026, the domain was temporarily placed on a so-called server hold by the .me registry organisation, causing the links to stop working worldwide. A day later, the domain was reactivated. According to the .me administrator, the measure was related to compliance with US sanctions rules (OFAC).

The Telegram app itself continued to function, but millions of external links to Telegram channels and groups were temporarily unreachable. The incident demonstrates how strongly online services can sometimes depend on a single domain name and the organisations behind it.

Legally Speaking: Which Rules Are You Bound By?

When registering a domain name, an agreement is concluded with the registry (or sometimes through a registrar). This includes, amongst other things, which law applies, what grounds exist for suspension or withdrawal, and which authority resolves disputes. The terms of these agreements vary significantly per extension.

For a .nl domain, Dutch law applies and disputes are resolved under the SIDN dispute resolution procedure. For an .ai extension, however, the terms of the registry in Anguilla apply, including the jurisdiction there. With a .me domain, as the Telegram incident shows, US sanctions rules can take effect because the registry operator is based in the United States. Something similar applies to .tv: although Tuvalu is formally the holder of the extension, the commercial and operational terms are in practice determined by Verisign, and thus indirectly by US law.

This makes the domain choice also a legal choice: which terms and which legal system do you actually accept when you choose a particular extension? And does this fit your customer base, contractual obligations, and risk profile?

Look Beyond the Marketing Value

This legal complexity does not mean that entrepreneurs should avoid country code domains. Many of these extensions actually have mature procedures and good legal safeguards. For example, .ai works with the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP), the same international dispute resolution procedure that is also used for .com domains, amongst others, and is administered through WIPO. For .nl, there is a separate variant: the Dispute Resolution Regulation for .nl domain names, also administered by WIPO under SIDN supervision.

It is important to know that these procedures only work for a specific type of conflict: in short, the bad faith registration or use of someone else's trade mark. For other situations, a registry placing your domain on server hold due to sanctions compliance, or a dispute with your registrar about services, the UDRP offers no solution. In such cases, you fall back on the contract law of the registry, which, as described above, can vary significantly per extension.

Do Your Research in Advance

For trade mark holders, there is another consideration: a dispute resolution procedure is not a substitute for trade mark registration. Without a registered trade mark in the Benelux or EU, you almost always stand empty-handed in a UDRP procedure. Trade mark and domain are legally two different things, but in practice inseparably connected.

The lesson is therefore primarily that it is wise to do research in advance. Anyone who makes their online brand, customer base, or business processes dependent on a specific domain name would do well to know who manages the registry, which rules apply, and what options are available in case of conflicts or disruptions.

Digital Autonomy Requires Conscious Choices

Digital autonomy does not mean that everything must be hosted within the Netherlands or Europe. It is primarily about having control over dependencies, understanding risks, and the ability to make conscious choices. Precisely because domain names form a fundamental part of digital infrastructure, they deserve more attention than they often receive.

For entrepreneurs looking for a creative or striking domain name, the message is therefore simple: don't just look at how an extension sounds, but also at the organisation and rules behind it. Only then do you truly know to whom you are entrusting your online presence.

Questions to Ask in Advance

The examples of .ai, .me, and .tv show that the choice of an extension is never purely a marketing decision. Anyone who takes their digital autonomy seriously would do well to answer four basic questions before a domain is registered:

1. Which registry manages the extension and under which law does it fall? One extension falls under Dutch or European law, another under US, Anguillan, or Montenegrin law.
2. Which dispute resolution procedure applies? UDRP, a local variant such as the SIDN dispute resolution procedure for .nl, or only the regular contract law of the registry's country? This determines how quickly and cheaply you can resolve a conflict.
3. Does your domain align with your trade mark protection? A registered trade mark in the Benelux or EU is the basis for being able to take action against abuse through a dispute resolution procedure. Without a trade mark, you often stand empty-handed in a conflict, even if there is actual reputation.
4. What is your fallback option in case of disruption? A second domain name (for example, a .nl alongside a .com or .tv) can make the difference between an hour of inconvenience and days of being unreachable. Communication with customers is also part of this: do they know how to reach you if the primary domain fails?

This blog was created in collaboration with SIDN & ICTRecht. ICTRecht advises entrepreneurs on trade mark protection, domain name disputes, and the legal aspects of digital infrastructure. With our IP inventory, we help organisations map their digital IP portfolio and determine where adjustments are needed.

For more information on this topic or for legal advice regarding your domain name strategy, please feel free to reach out.