1. Scope
1.1 These Terms establish the relationship between you, the user of the Services, and OffshoreDomains.com ("OffshoreDomains"), the provider of said Services (defined in section 2.1).
1.2 Your use of the Services signifies acceptance of these Terms, creating a binding agreement between you and OffshoreDomains.
1.3 By using the Services and agreeing to these Terms, you confirm that you are at least 18 years old and possess the legal authority to enter into this agreement with OffshoreDomains.
1.4 Additional conditions may apply to specific aspects of the Services, such as promotions, and will be provided to you when relevant. These additional conditions are considered part of these Terms and take precedence over them if a conflict arises.
1.5 OffshoreDomains reserves the right to amend or supplement these Terms at any time, with such changes becoming effective upon posting. Your continued use of the Services constitutes acceptance of any modifications. Additionally, you agree to abide by any regulations or terms set by domain registry operators, with these Terms prevailing in case of conflict.
2. The Services
2.1 The Services encompass domain name registration, renewal, and transfers, unless otherwise specified in the order receipt.
2.2 OffshoreDomains reserves the right to alter the Services' content or scope, with you retaining the right to terminate the Agreement if such changes occur. No refunds will be issued upon termination due to changes in the Services.
2.3 Services are purchased annually and renewed upon timely payment. Failure to pay may result in termination, with OffshoreDomains having discretion over domain name renewal or expiration.
2.4 OffshoreDomains is not liable for renewing Services if payment is not received on time.
3. Registration
3.1 You must provide updated contact information to OffshoreDomains for communication and invoicing purposes.
3.2 Domain names are considered active upon acceptance by the relevant registry operator.
3.3 Unless specified otherwise, domain names are registered using the contact information provided during your account registration. If your client account lacks necessary contact details, the domain will be registered under OffshoreDomains' company information. However, ownership is transferred to you upon registration. Transfer of registration is feasible with mutual agreement.
3.4 Private individuals may withdraw from Services within 14 days of order confirmation, except if Services have commenced upon request.
4. Use of Services and Domain Name
4.1 You are responsible for maintaining compatible hardware and software for accessing the Services and domain name.
4.2 Prohibited activities include using the Services for illegal purposes or activities that disrupt their operation.
4.3 OffshoreDomains.com offers free DNS management service for every domain name which can be added on domain checkout or if your domain is already registered, can be added by going to Manage Domain > Edit Domain Configuration > Tick DNS Management box and save. You are also welcome to use your own DNS management provider, such as CloudFlare.com (Free Plan) or a similar service. Our services are limited to managing domain nameservers and Whois protection only.
5. DMCA, Copyright, Freedom of Expression & Applicable Law
5.1 Understanding the DMCA is vital, especially as it predominantly applies only to the United States, outlining protocols for tackling copyright infringement and providing flexibility for online service providers. Nonetheless, our EU company will only comply with local copyright laws.
5.2 Within the European Union, adherence to the EU Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market is paramount. Users and content creators need to be mindful of specific copyright laws applicable to their jurisdiction and the content they host, as regulations may vary.
5.3 Our commitment reflects the principles outlined in Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, safeguarding the fundamental right to freedom of expression. It's crucial to emphasize that OffshoreDomains.com does not engage in censoring customer content. We draw a clear line between hosting freedom of speech and managing copyrighted material. However, this distinction does not allow for activities prohibited under the registry terms of service agreements.
5.4 We champion freedom of expression, endorse open-source software, prioritize privacy and anonymity, and advocate for network neutrality. As a domain provider dedicated to free speech, it's important to clarify that we do not offer bulletproof services and prohibit malicious activities. We refrain from removing potentially offensive content solely to maintain our status as a free speech domain registration provider.
6. Payments
6.1 Service fees are as listed on the OffshoreDomains webpage and may change with or without notice.
6.2 Payment is made in advance through various methods on checkout.
6.3 Renewal reminders are sent 14 days before expiration.
6.4 OffshoreDomains is not responsible for delays or defects in third-party payment systems.
6.5 Payments include applicable taxes.
6.6 Late payments incur an annual penalty interest.
6.7 Payments are final and non-refundable, except at OffshoreDomains' discretion.
7. Your Data
7.1 OffshoreDomains collects necessary data for Service provision and may share it as required by law.
7.2 Information may be shared with authorities in case of violations.
7.3 Only essential information is required from you.
7.4 Regarding GDPR, OffshoreDomains complies by collecting data purposefully and transparently.
8. Disclaimer and Limitation of Liability
8.1 OffshoreDomains makes no warranties regarding Service reliability, accuracy, or content storage. Users assume all risks associated with Service use.
8.2 Third-party service providers are not guaranteed by OffshoreDomains, and users release OffshoreDomains from liability related to these providers.
8.3 OffshoreDomains' liability is limited to the amount paid for Services in the preceding 12 months.
8.4 Consumer rights under applicable law are not affected.
9. Indemnity
You indemnify OffshoreDomains from claims arising from your Service use or breach of these Terms.
10. Term
10.1 These Terms become effective upon Service use and can be terminated for material breach or insolvency.
10.2 OffshoreDomains may terminate Services for various reasons outlined in this section.
10.3 OffshoreDomains may suspend Services for technical reasons.
10.4 Immediate termination allows discontinuation of Services.
11. Assignment
You cannot assign your rights or obligations under these Terms without OffshoreDomains' approval.
12. Force Majeure
12.1 Neither party is liable for breaches due to circumstances beyond their control.
12.2 If force majeure persists, the other party may terminate Services.
13. Entire Agreement
These Terms constitute the entire agreement between the parties, superseding any previous agreements.
14. Amendments and Waivers
No waiver of provisions is valid unless in writing.
Domain Registration and Ownership
Upon registering an account on our billing system, domain names are initially registered using your provided data on sign-up. If your billing account lacks necessary information that may impede the registration process, your domain name will be registered using our company information by default. It is important to acknowledge that this defaults to OffshoreDomains being registered as the owner of the domain name. However, OffshoreDomains' role is that of a middleman, and actual ownership of the domain is not vested in OffshoreDomains but in you, effective from the date of domain name registration.
To prevent potential issues related to incorrect Whois information, domain disputes, and complaints down the line, we recommend updating your Whois details to reflect your own information at any time.
Additionally, you have the option to formally request the transfer of the domain name registration to yourself. This entails becoming the registered owner with the relevant registry operator. However, a precondition for this transfer is your written agreement to adhere to any agreements and terms to which OffshoreDomains is bound as the current registrant of the domain name.
15. Special Characters & IDNs
It's important to note that special characters are not allowed when registering domain names. To comply with standard requirements for all domain extensions, please adhere to the following guidelines: Your domain name should be between 3 to 63 characters in length, consisting only of letters (a-z characters), numbers (0-9), and hyphens (except as the first or last characters). Characters like "&" and "#" are explicitly prohibited, and Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) are not supported in any form. Our system automatically removes IDNs and special characters upon domain activation to align with global domain system standards, potentially resulting in domains with missing characters or IDNs. Please be aware that refunds will not be issued for domains registered with missing characters due to the use of special characters.
16. Domain Registration Compliance
OffshoreDomains operates in full compliance with the legal requirements set forth by the relevant domain registries governing the registration of domains.
You acknowledge and agree not to engage in activities prohibited by our Terms of Service using the domain name provided through the Services.
17. Support
Our customer service is offered through tickets submitted via our billing portal. These tickets are handled in the order they are received, and sending multiple responses or submissions will not expedite the response time. Please note that our support team is available only in English.
You can contact us for support regarding the following issues:
Abusive language of any kind is strictly prohibited through any communication channel connected to us, including our ticketing system, online forums, and chat rooms. Engaging in such behavior may lead to a warning and suspension of services access.
18. Limited Liability
Our liability is expressly confined to matters concerning domain registration exclusively.
